Page 136
An.1684
Monte-Christo
nama, bound to Lima, or any other Port in Peru. The Land being dry and sandy, is not fit to pro- duce Crops of Maize; which is the reason they plant none. There is a spring of good Water be- tween the Village and the Seas.
On the back of the Town, a pretty way up in the Country, there is a very high Mountain, towr- ing up like a Sugar-loaf, called Monte-Christo. It is a very good Sea-mark, for there is none like it on all the Coast. The body of this Mountain bears due South from Manta. About a mile and half from the Shore, right against the Village, there is a Rock, which is very dangerous, because it never appears above water; neither doth the Sea break on it, be- cause here is seldom any great Sea: yet it is now so well known, that all Ships bound to this place do easily avoid it. A mile within this Rock there is good Anchoring, in 6, 8, or 10 fathom Water, good, hard Sand and clear ground: And a mile from the Road on the West side there is a shoal run- ning out a mile into the Sea. From Manta to Cape St. Lorenzo the Land is plain and even, of an indif- ferent heighth. See a further account of these Coasts in the Appendix.
As soon as ever the day appear'd our men landed, and march'd towards the Village, which was about a mile and a half from their Landing-place: Some of the Indians who were stirring, saw them coming, and alarmed their Neighbours; so that all that were able got away. They took only two old Women, who both said, that it was reported that a great ma- ny Enemies were come over land thro the Coun- try of Darien into the South Seas; and that they were at present in Canoas and Periagoes: and that the Vice-Roy upon this news had set out the fore-men- tioned order for burning their own ships. Our men found no sort of provision here; the Vice-Roy having likewise sent orders to all Sea-ports to keep