Page 241
An.1685
A Narrow Escape.
breez blew hard, and we sprung our Main Topmast. This Coast is full of small Hills and Valleys, and a great Sea falls in upon the shore. In the night we met with the other 2 of our Canoas that went from us at Guatulco. They had been as far as Acapulco to seek Port Angells. Coming back from thence they went into a River to get Water, and were encounterd by 150 Spaniards, yet they fill'd their Water in spight of them, but had one man shot through the Thigh. Afterward they went into a Lagune, or Lake of Salt-water, where they found much dried Fish, and brought some aboard. We being now a- brest of that place, sent in a Canoa mann'd with 12 men for more Fish: The mouth of this Lagune is not Pistol-shot wide, and on both sides are pretty high Rocks, so conveniently placed by nature, that many men may abscond behind ; and within the Rock the Lagune opens wide on both sides. The Spaniards being allarmed by our 2 Canoas that had been there 2 or 3 days before, came armed to this place to secure their Fish ; and seeing our Canoa coming, they lay snug behind the Rocks, and suf- fered the Canoa to pass in, then they fired their Volley, and wounded 5 of our men. Our people were a little surprized at this sudden adventure; yet fired their Guns, and rowed farther into the Lagune, for they durst not adventure to come out again through the narrow entrance, which was near a quarter of a mile in length. Therefore they rowed into the middle of the Lagune, where they lay out of Gun-shot, and looked about to see if there was not another passage to get out at, broad- er than that by which they entered, but could see none. So they lay still 2 days and 3 nights, in hopes that we should come to seek them; but we lay off at Sea, about 3 leagues distant, waiting for their return, supposing by their long absence that they had made some greater discovery, and were gone