Page 55

An.1682

Isle of Tortuga.

The Land of this East end is light Sand, which is sometimes overflown with the Sea at Spring-tides: The Road for Ships is on the South side, against the middle of the Island. The rest of the Islands of Roca's are low. The next to this on the South side is but small, flat and even, without Trees, bearing only Grass. On the South side of it is a Pond of brackish Water, which sometimes Privateers use in- stead of better; there is likewise good riding by it. About a league from this are two other Islands, not 200 yards distant from each other; yet a deep Channel for Ships to pass through. They are both overgrown with red Mangrove Trees, which Trees, above any of the Mangroves, do flourish best in wet drowned Land, such as these two Islands are; only the East point of the Westernmost Island is dry Sand, without Tree or Bush: On this point we ca- reened, lying on the South side of it.

The other Islands are low, and have red Man- groves, and other Trees on them. Here also Ships may ride; but no such place for careening as where we lay; because at that place Ships may hale close to the shore; and if they have but four Guns on the point may secure the Channel, and hinder any Ene- my from coming near them. I observ'd that within, among the Islands, was good riding in many places; but not without the Islands, except to the West- ward, or S. West of them. For on the East, or N.E. of these Islands, the common Trade-Wind blows, and makes a great Sea: and to the South- ward of them there is no ground under 70, 80, or 100 fathom, close by the Land.

After we had filled what Water we could from hence, we set out again in April 1682. and came to Salt-Tortuga, so called to distinguish it from the shoals of Dry Tortugas, near Cape Florida, and from the Isle of Tortugas by Hispaniola, which was called formerly French Tortugas; though not having heard any