Page 381
An.1687
Vast numbers of monstrous Batts.
tion of an incredible number of great Batts, with bodies as big as Ducks, or larger Fowl, and with vast Wings: For I saw at Mindanao one of this sort, and I judge that the Wings stretcht out in length, could not be less afunder than 7 or 8 foot from tip to tip; for it was much more than any of us could fathom with our Arms, extended to the utmost. The Wings are for substance like those of other Batts, of a dun or mouse colour. The Skin or Leather of them hath Ribs running along it and draws up in 3 or 4 folds, and at the joints of those Ribs and the extremities of the Wings, there are sharp crooked Claws, by which they may hang on any thing. In the evening as soon as the Sun was set, these Creatures would begin to take their flight from this Island, in swarms like Bees, directing their flight over to the main Island; and whether afterwards I know not. Thus we should see them rising up from the Island till night hindred our fight, and in the morning as soon as it was light, we should see them returning again like a Cloud, to the small Island, till Sun rising. This course they kept constantly while we lay here, affording us every morning and evening an hours diversion in gazing at them, and talking about them; but our curiosity did not prevail with us to go ashore to them, our selves and Canoas being all the day time taken up in business about our Ship. At this Isle also we found plenty of Turtle and Manatee, but no Fish.
We stay'd here till the 10th of February 1687, and then having compleated our business, we sailed hence with the Wind at North. But going out we struck on a Rock, where we lay two hours: It was very smooth Water, and the Tide of flood, or else we should there have lost our Ship. We struck off a great piece of our Rudder, which was all the damage that we received, but we more narrow- ly