Page 156
An. 1684
Guiaquil attempted.
for they thought it impoffible to do any good that way. Captain Davis and his Men were abfent about 4 hours, and then returned all wet, and quite tired, and could not find any paffage out into the firm Land. He had been fo far, that he almoft difpair'd of getting back again: for a Man cannot pafs thro thofe Red Mangroves but with very much labour. When C. Davis was return'd, we concluded to be going towards the Town the beginning of the next Flood; and if we found that the Town was alarm'd, we purpofed to return again without attempting any thing there. Affoon as it was Flood we rowed away, and paffed by the Ifland through the N. E. Channel, which is the narroweft. There are fo many Stumps in the River, that it is very dangerous palling in the night (and that is the time we always take for fuch attempts) for the River runs very fwift, and one of our Canoas ftuck on a Stump, and had certainly overfet, if fhe had not been immediately refcued by others. When we were come almoft to the end of the Ifland, there was a Mufquet fired at us out of the Bufhes, on the Main. We then had the Town open before us, and prefently faw lighted Torches, or Candles, all the Town over; whereas before the Gun was fired there was but one Light; there- fore we now concluded we were difcovered: Yet many of our Men faid, that it was a Holiday the next day, as it was indeed, and that therefore the Spaniards were making Fireworks, which they often do in the night againft fuch times. We rowed there- fore a little farther, and found firm Land, and Cap- tain Davis pitched his Canoa afhore and landed with his Men. Captain Swan, and moft of his Men, did not think it convenient to attempt any thing, feeing the Town was alarm d; but at laft, being upbraided with Cowardize, Captain Swan and his Men landed alfo. The place where we landed was about 2 mile from the Town: it was all overgrown with Woods so