Page 424
An.1687
High Shores and deep Seas.
that affords good anchoring, Ships being soon driven from their Moorings on a steep bank: Therefore we never strive to anchor where we see the Land high, and bounding the Sea with steep Cliffs ; and for this reason, when we came in sight of States Island near Terra del Fuego, before we entered into the South Seas, we did not so much as think of anchoring after we saw what Land it was, because of the steep Cliffs which appear'd a- gainst the Sea : Yet there might be little Harbours or Coves for Shallops, or the like, to anchor in, which we did not see nor search after.
As high steep Cliffs bounding on the Sea have this ill consequence, that they seldom afford an- choring ; so they have this benefit, that we can see them far off, and fail close to them, without dan- ger : for which reason we call them Bold Shores. Whereas low Land, on the contrary, is seen but a little way, and in many places we dare not come near it, for fear of running aground before we see it. Besides, there are in many places shoals thrown out by the course of great Rivers, that from the low Land fall into the Sea.
This which I have said, that there is usually good anchoring near low Lands, may be illustra- ted by several instances. Thus on the South side of the Bay of Campeachy, there is mostly low Land, and there also is good anchoring all along shore ; and in some places to the Eastward of the Town of Campeachy, we shall have so many fathom as we are leagues off from Land ; that is, from 9 or 10 leagues distance, till you come within 4 leagues: and from thence to Land it grows but shallower. The Bay of Honduras also is low Land, and con- tinues mostly so, as we past along from thence to the Coasts of Portobel, and Cartagena, till we came as high as Santa Martha ; afterwards the Land is low again, till you come towards the Coast of Caraccos,