Page 261
An. 1686
Darien Indians. Point Pontique.
affured were in this Country, and we hoped near the fhore: not knowing (as we afterwards found) that it was in effect an Inland Country, its Wealth remote from the South Sea Coaft, and having little or no commerce with it: its Trade being driven Eaftward with Europe, by La Vera Cruz. Yet we had ftill fome expectation of Mines, and fo refolved to fteer on farther Northward. But Captain Town- ly, who had no other defign in coming on this Coaft, but to meet this Ship, refolved to return again towards the Coaft of Peru.
In all this Voyage on the Mexican Coaft we had with us a Captain, and 2 or 3 of his Men of our friendly Indians of the Ifthmus of Darien; who ha- ving conducted over fome Parties of our Privateers, and expreffing a defire to go along with us, were received and kindly entertained aboard our Ships; and we were pleas'd in having, by this means, Guides ready provided, fhould we be for returning over Land, as feveral of us thought to do, rather than fail round about. But at this time, we of Captain Swan's Ship defigning farther to the North Weft, and Captain Townly going back, we com- mitted thefe our Indian Friends to his care, to carry them home. So here we parted; he to the Eaft- ward, and we to the Weftward, intending to fearch as far to the Weftward as the Spaniards were fettled.
It was the 7th day of January in the morning when we failed from this pleafant Valley. The Wind was at N. E. and the weather fair. At 11 a clock the Sea-wind came at N. W. Before night we paffed by Point Pontique; this is the Weft point of the Bay of the Valley of Valderas, and is diftant from Cape Corrientes 10 leagues. This point is in lat. 20 d. 50 m. North: it is high, round, rocky and barren. At a diftance it appears like an Ifland. A league to the Weft of this point are two fmall bar- ren