Page 249
An.1685
Jew-fish. Chequetan.
miles. There we came to a poor Indian Village that did not afford us a Meal of Victuals. The peo- ple all fled, only a Mulatto woman, and 3 or 4 small Children, who were taken and brought a- board. She told us that a Carrier, (one who drives a Caravan of Mules) was going to Acapulco laden with Flower and other Goods, but stopt in the Road for fear of us, a little to the West of this Vil- lage, (for he had heard of our being on this Coast) and she thought he still remained there : and there- fore it was we kept the Woman to be our Guide to carry us to that place. At this place where we now lay our Moskito-men struck some small Turtle, and many small Jew-fish.
The Jew-fish is a very good Fish, and I judge so called by the English because it hath Scales and Fins, therefore a clean Fish according to the Levitical Law, and the Jews at Jamaica buy them, and eat them very freely. It is a very large Fish, shaped much like a Cod, but a great deal bigger; one will weigh 3, or 4, or 5 hundred weight. It hath a large head, with great Fins and Scales, as big as an Half- Crown, answerable to the bigness of his body. It is very sweet Meat, and commonly fat. This Fish lives among Rocks; there are plenty of them in the West Indies, about Jamaica, and the Coast of Caraccos; but chiefly in these Seas, especially more Westward.
We went from hence with our Ships the 18th day, and steered West about 2 leagues farther, to a place called Chequetan. A mile and half from the shore there is a small Key, and within it is a very good Harbour where Ships may careen ; there is also a small River of fresh water, and wood enough.
The 14th day in the morning we went with 95 Men in 6 Canoas, to seek for the Carrier, taking the Mulatto woman for our Guide ; but Captain Townly would not go with us. Before day we land- ed