Page 257
An.1685
Ifles of Chametly.
ordered, that Captain Swan fhould lye 8 or 10 leagues off fhore, and the reft about a league di- ftant each from other, between him and the Cape, that fo we might not mifs the Phillippine Ship: but we wanted Provifion; and therefore we fent Cap- tain Townly's Bark, with 50 or 60 men to the Weft of the Cape, to fearch about for fome Town or Plantations, where we might get Provifion of any fort. The reft of us in the mean time cruizing in our ftations. The 17th day the Bark came to us again, but had got nothing, for they could not get about the Cape, becaufe the wind on this Coaft is commonly between the N. W. and the S. W. which makes it very difficult getting to the Weftward; but they left 4 Canoas with 46 men at the Cape, who refolved to row to the Weftward. The 18th day we failed to the Keys of Chametly to fill our Water. Thefe Keys or Iflands of Chametly are about 16 or 18 leagues to the Eaftward of Cape Corrientes. They are fmall, low, and woody, in- vironed with Rocks; there are 5 of them lying in the form of a half Moon, not a mile from the fhore, and between them and the Main is very good Riding, fecure from any Wind. The Spani- ards do report, that here live Fishermen, to fifh for the Inhabitants of the City of Purification. This is said to be a large Town, the beft hereabouts; but is 14 leagues up in the Country.
The 20th inftant we entered within thefe Iflands, paffing in on the S. E. fide, and anchored between the Ilands and the Main, in 5 fathom clean Sand. Here we found good frefh Water and Wood, and caught plenty of Rock-fifh with Hook and Line, a fort of Fifh I defcrib'd at the Ifle of John Fernando, but we faw no fign of Inhabitants, befides 2 or 4 old Hutts; therefore I do believe that the Spanifh, or Indian Fishermen come hither only at Lent, or fome other fuch feafon, but that they do not live here