Page 321
An. 1686
Fowl, Fifh, Rivers and Air.
a Goose quill, but flattifh; of a dun or reddish co- lour on the Back; but Belly whitish, and full of Legs on each fide the Belly. Their fting or bite is more raging than the Scorpion. They lye in old Houfes, and dry Timber. There are feveral forts of Snakes; fome very poifonous. There is another fort of Creature like a Guano both in colour and fhape, but 4 times as big, whofe Tongue is like a fmall Harpoon, having two beards like the beards of a Fishook. They are faid to be very venenous, but I know not their names. I have feen them in other places alfo, as at Pulo Condore, or the Iftand Condore, and at Achin, and have been told that they are in the Bay of Bengal.
The Fowls of this Country are Ducks and Hens: Other tame Fowl I have not seen nor heard of any. The wild Fowl are Pidgeons, Parrots, Pa- rakits, Turtle-dove, and abundance of small Fowls. There are Bats as big as a Kite.
There are a great many Harbours, Creeks, and good Bays for Ships to ride in; and Rivers navi- gable for Canoas, Proes or Barks, which are all plentifully stored with Fish of divers sorts, so is al- so the adjacent Sea. The chiefest Fish are Bonetas, Snooks, Cavally's, Bremes, Mullets, 10 Pounders, &c. Here are also plenty of Sea Turtle, and small Manatee; which are not near so big as those in the West Indies. The biggest that I saw would not weigh above 600l. but the flesh both of the Turtle and Manatee are very sweet.
The weather at Mindanao is temperate enough as to heat, for all it lies fo near the Equator; and especially on the borders near the Sea. There they commonly enjoy the breezes by day, and cooling Land-winds at night. The Winds are Easterly one part of the year, and Westerly the other. The Easterly winds begin to fet in October, and it is the middle of November before they are settled. These