Page 242
An.1685
The Sea-coast.
gone farther than the Fish-range; because it is u- sual with Privateers when they enter upon such de- signs, to search farther than they proposed, if they meet any encouragement. But Captain Townly and his Bark being nearer the shore, heard some Guns fired in the Lagune. So he mann'd his Ca- noa, and went towards the shore, and beating the Spaniards away from the Rocks, made a free passage for our men to come out of their pound, where else they must have been starved or knocked on the head by the Spaniards. They came aboard their Ships again the 31st of October. This Lagune is about the lat. of 16 d. 40 m. North.
From hence we made sail again, coasting to the Westward, having fair weather and a Current set- ting to the West. The second day of November we past by a Rock, called by the Spaniards the Alga- trofs. The Land hereabout is of an indifferent height, and woody, and more within the Country Mountainous. Here are 7 or 8 white cliffs by the Sea, which are very remarkable, because there are none so white and so thick together on all the Coast. They are 5 or 6 mile to the West of the Algalrofs Rock. There is a dangerous shoal lieth S. by W. from these Cliffs, 4 or 5 mile off at Sea. Two leagues to the West of these Cliffs there is a pretty large River, which forms a small Island at its mouth. The Channel on the East side is but shoal and sandy, but the West Channel is deep e- nough for Canoas to enter. On the Banks of this Channel the Spaniards have made a Breftwork, to hinder an Enemy from landing, or filling Water.
The 3d day we anchored abreast of this River, in 14 fathom Water, about a mile and a half off shore. The next morning we mann'd our Canoas, and went ashore to the Breftwork with little resistance, although there were about 200 men to keep us off. They fired about 20 or 30 Guns at us, but seeing we