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An.1681

Blewfields River.

This Blewfields River comes out between the Ri- vers of Nicaragua and Veragua. At its mouth is a fine sandy Bay, where Barks may clean : It is deep at its mouth, but a shoal within ; so that Ships may not enter, yet Barks of 60 or 70 Tuns may. It had this name from Captain Blewfield, a famous Priva- teer living on Providence Island long before Jamaica was taken. Which Island of Providence was settled by the English, and belonged to the Earls of Warwick.

In this River we found a Canoa coming down the stream ; and though we went with our Canoas to seek for Inhabitants, yet we found none, but saw in 2 or 3 places signs that Indians had made on the side of the River. The Canoa which we found was but meanly made for want of Tools, therefore we concluded these Indians have no commerce with the Spaniards ; nor with other Indians that have.

While we lay here, our Moskito men went in their Canoa, and struck us some Manatee, or Sea-cow. Besides this Blewfields River, I have seen the Ma- natee in the Bay of Campechy, on the Coasts of Boc- ca del Drago, and Bocco del Toro, in the River of Da- rien, and among the South Keys or little Islands of Cuba. I have heard of their being found on the North of Jamaica, a few, and in the Rivers of Su- rinam in great multitudes, which is a very low Land. I have seen of them also at Mindanea one of the Philippine Islands, and on the Coast of New-Holland. This Creature is about the bigness of a Horse, and 10 or 12 foot long. The mouth of it is much like the mouth of a Cow, having great thick lips. The Eyes are no bigger than a small Pea, the Ears are only two small holes on each side of the Head. The Neck is short and thick, bigger than the Head. The biggest part of this Creature is at the Shoulders, where it hath two large Fins, one on each side of its Belly ; Under each of these Fins the Female hath a small Dug to suckle her young. From the Shoul-