Page 272
An.1686
Of the Gulf of California.
Part of the History of the Buccaneers, which relates to Captain Sharp. He was at this time Cape-Merchant, or Super-cargo of Captain Swan s Ship. He had no mind to this Voyage; but was necessitated to en- gage in it, or starve.
This loss discouraged us from attempting any thing more hereabouts. Therefore Captain Swan proposed to go to Cape St. Lucas on California to careen. He had two reasons for this: first, that he thought he could lye there secure from the Spaniards; and next, that if he could get a commerce with the Indians there, he might make a discovery in the Lake of California; and by their assistance try for some of the Plate of New Mexico.
This Lake of California (for so the Sea, Channel or Streight, between that and the Continent, is called) is but little known to the Spaniards, by what I could ever learn; for their Drafts do not agree about it. Some of them do make California an Island, but give no manner of account of the Tides flowing in the Lake, or what depth of Water there is, or of the Harbours, Rivers, or Creeks, that border on it: Whereas on the West side of the Island, toward the Asiatick Coast, their Pilot-book gives an account of the Coast from Cape St. Lucas to 40 d. N. Some of their Drafts newly made do make California to join to the Main. I do believe that the Spaniards do not care to have this Lake dis- covered, for fear left other European Nations should get knowledge of it, and by that means visit the Mines of New Mexico. We heard that not long before our arrival here, the Indians in the Province of New Mexico made an insurrection, and destroy- ed most of the Spaniards there, but that some of them flying towards the Gulf or Lake of California, made Canoes in that Lake and got safe away; so that the Indians of the Lake of California, seem to be at perfect enmity with the Spaniards. We had an