Page 224
An.1685
Malignant Fevers.
Swan. It was not from any dislike to my old Cap- tain, but to get some knowledge of the Northern parts of this Continent of Mexico: and I knew that Captain Swan determined to coast it as far North as he thought convenient, and then pass over for the East Indies; which was a way very agreeable to my inclination. Captain Townly, with his two Barks, was resolved to keep us company: but Captain Knight and Captain Harris followed Captain Davis. The 27th day in the morning Captain Davis with his Ships went out of the Harbour having a fresh Land Wind. They were in company, Captain Davis's Ship with Captain Harris in her, Captain Davis's Bark and Fireship, and Captain Knight in his own Ship; in all 4 Sail. Captain Swan took his last farewel of him by firing 15 Guns, and he fired 11 in return of the civility.
We stay'd here some time afterwards to fill our Water, and cut Fire-wood: but our Men, who had been very healthy till now, began to fall down apace in Fevers. Whether it was the badness of the Water, or the unhealthiness of the Town was the cause of it we did not know; but of the two I rather believe it was a Distemper we got at Ria Lexa: for it was reported that they had been visited with a Malignant Fever in that Town, which had occasioned many people to abandon it; and al- though this Visitation was over with them, yet their Houses and Goods might still retain somewhat of the Infection, and communicate the same to us. I the rather believe this, because it afterwards raged very much, not only among us, but also among Captain Davis and his Men, as he told me himself since, when I met him in England: Himself had like to have died, as did several of his and our Men. The 3d day of September we turned ashore all our Prisoners and Pilots, they being unacquainted fur- ther to the West; which was the Coast that we de- signed