Page 15

An. 1681

A Journey over the Isthmus of America.

had a Spanish Indian in our Company, who first took up Arms with Captain Sawkins, and had been with us ever since his death. He was perswaded to live here by the master of the house, who promised him his Sister in marriage, and to be assistant to him in clearing a Plantation ; but we would not consent to part from him here, for fear of some trea- chery, but promised to release him in two or three days, when we were certainly out of danger of our Enemies. We stayed here all the Afternoon, and dryed our Cloaths, and Ammunition, cleared our Guns, and provided our selves for a march the next morning.

Our Chyrurgeon Mr. Wafer came to a sad dis- aster here : Being drying his Powder, a careless fel- low passed by with his Pipe lighted, and set fire to his Powder, which blew up and scorcht d his Knee ; and reduced him to that condition, that he was not able to march ; wherefore we allowed him a slave to carry his things, being all of us the more concern'd at the accident, because lyable our selves every moment to misfortune, and none to look after us but him. This Indian Plantation was seated on the bank of the River Congo, in a very fat Soyl, and thus far we might have come in our Canoa, if I could have perswaded them to it.

The 6th day we set out again, having hired ano- ther guide. Here we first crost the River Congo in a Canoa, having been from our first Landing on the West side of the River, and being over, we march- ed to the Eastwards 2 mile, and came to another River, which we forded several times, though it was very deep. Two of our men were not able to keep company with us, but came after us as they were able. The last time we forded the River, it was so deep, that our tallest men stood in the deep- est place, and handed the sick, weak, and short men ; by which means we all got over safe, ex- cept