Page 258
An.1685
Valderas, a pleafant Valley.
here conftantly. The 21ft day Captain Townly went away with about 60 men to take an Indian Village, 7 or 8 leagues from hence to the Weftward more towards the Cape, and the next day we went to cruize off the Cape, where Captain Townly was to meet us. The 24th day, as we were cruizing off the Cape, the 4 Canoas before mentioned which Captain Townly's Bark left at the Cape, came off to us. They, after the Bark left them, paft to the Weft of the Cape, and rowed into the Valley Val- deras, or perhaps Val d' Iris; for it fignifies the Valley of Flags.
This Valley lies in the bottom of a pretty deep Bay, that runs in between Cape Corrientes on the S. E. and the point of Pontique on the N. W. which two places are about 10 leagues afunder. The Valley is about 3 leagues wide; there is a level fandy Bay againft the Sea, and good fmooth land- ing. In the midft of the Bay is a fine River, whereinto Boats may enter; but it is brackifh at the latter end of the dry Seafon, which is in Febru- ary, March, and part of April. I fhall fpeak more of the Seafons in my Chapter of Winds, in the Ap- pendix. This Valley is bounded within Land, with a fmall green Hill, that makes a very gentle de- fcent into the Valley, and affords a very pleafant profpect to Sea-ward. It is inriched with fruitful Savannahs, mixt with Groves of Trees fit for any ufes, befide Fruit Trees in abundance, as Guava's, Oranges and Limes, which here grow wild in fuch plenty, as if Nature had defigned it only for a Garden. The Savannahs are full of fat Bulls and Cows, and fome Horfes; but no Houfe in fight.
When our Canoas came to this pleafant Valley, they landed 37 men, and marched into the Coun- try feeking for fome Houfes. They had not gone paft 3 mile before they were attackt by 150 Spani- ards, Horfe and Foot: There was a fmall thin Wood