Page 231
An.1685
The Sea-Coast.
weather. We ran along by a tract of very high Land, which came from the Eastward, more within Land than we could see, after we fell in with it, it bare us company for about 10 leagues, and ended with a pretty gentle descent towards the West.
There we had a perfect view of a pleasant low Country, which seemed to be rich in Pasturage for Cattle. It was plentifully furnished with groves of green Trees, mixt among the grassy Savannahs: Here the Land was fenced from the Sea with high sandy Hills, for the Waves all along this Coast run high, and beat against the shore very boisterously, making the Land wholly unapproachable in Boats or Canoas : So we Coasted still along by this low Land, 8 or 9 leagues farther, keeping close to the shore for fear of missing Captain Townly. We lay by in the night, and in the day made an easie sail.
The 2d day of October Captain Townly came a- board ; he had coasted along shore in his Canoas, seeking for an entrance, but found none. At last, being out of hopes to find any Bay, Creek, or Ri- ver, into which he might safely enter ; he put a- shore on a sandy Bay, but overset all his Canoas ; he had one man drowned, and several loft their Arms, and some of them that had not waxt up their Cartrage or Catouche Boxes, wet all their Powder. : Captain Townly with much ado got a- shore, and dragged the Canoas up dry on the Bay ; then every man searched his Catouche-box, and drew the wet Powder out of his Gun, and pro- vided to march into the Country, but finding it full of great Creeks which they could not ford, they were forced to return again to their Canoas. In the night they made good fires to keep themselves warm ; the next morning 200 Spaniards and Indians fell on them but were immediately repulsed, and made greater speed back than they had done for- ward.