Page 225
An.1685
Tornadoes. Volcan, and City of Guatimala.
signed to visit: for the Spaniards have very little Trade by Sea beyond the River Lempa, a little to the North West of this place.
About 10 a clock in the morning, the same day, we went from hence, steering Westward, being in company 4 Sail, as well as they who left us, viz. Captain Swan and his Bark, and Captain Townly and his Bark, and about 340 Men.
We met with very bad weather as we sailed along this Coast: seldom a day past but we had one or two violent Tornadoes, and with them very fright- ful Flashes of Lightning and Claps of Thunder; I did never meet with the like before nor since. These Tornadoes commonly came out of the N. E. the Wind did not last long, but blew very fierce for the time. When the Tornadoes were over we had the Wind at W. sometimes at W. S. W. and S. W. and sometimes to the North of the West, as far as the N. W.
We kept at a good distance off shore, and saw no Land till the 14th day; but then, being in lat. 12 d. 50 m. the Volcan of Guatimala appeared in sight. This is a very high Mountain with two peeks or heads, appearing like two Sugar-loaves. It often belches forth Flames of Fire and Smoak from between the two heads, and this, as the Spaniards do report, happens chiefly in tempestuous weather. It is called so from the City Guatimala which stands near the foot of it, about 8 leagues from the South Sea, and by report, 40 or 50 leagues from the Gulf of Matique in the Bay of Honduras, in the North Seas. This City is famous for many rich Commodities that are produced thereabouts (some almost peculiar to this Country) and yearly fent into Europe, especially 4 rich Dies, Indico, Otta or Anatta, Silvester, and Cochineel.
Indico is made of an Herb which grows a foot and half or two foot high, full of small branches, and