A principal ruttier conteining most particular directions to
saile from S. Lucar in Andaluzia by the Isles of the
Canaries, the small Isles called Las Antillas, along the
South parts of the Isles of S. Juan de Puerto rico,
Hispaniola and Cuba
: and from Cabo de Corrientes, or
Cabo de S. Anton without and within the litle Isles
called Los Alacranes, to the port of S. Juan de Ullua in
Nueva Espanna: and the course from thence backe
againe by Havana
, and through the Chanell of Bahama
to Spaine: together with the speciall markes of all the
Capes, Islands, and other places by the way; and a
briefe declaration of their latitudes and longitudes.
IF you depart from the barre of S. Lucar de Barameda
toward the West Indias in the Summer time, you must
stirre away Southwest untill you come to the head-land
called Punta de Naga upon the
Isle of Tenerif. But if
your departure be from the sayd barre in the Winter, you
must stirre away Southwest and by South, untill you
come to the height of
Cape Cantin on the coast of Barbarie the markes and signes whereof be these following.
The markes to know Cape Cantin.
CAPE Cantin is a lowe Cape and small to the sea ward,
and maketh a snowt like the nose of a galley, and hath
upon the top of the poynt a Heath or shrubby place, and
on the toppe thereof stand two homocks, that to the seaward being higher then the other; but that on the Souther
side sheweth like a tower: and his Cape is in 32. degrees
and 1/2.
And he that wil seeke from this Cape to discover Punta
de Naga beforesayd, must stirre away Southwest and by
West, untill hee bring himselfe Northeast and Southwest
with the same point, and then he must stirre away South
to fetch the said point.
The signes of Punta de Naga.
THE said point or Head-land is an high point of Land, and
plaine upon the toppe like a table, and without it there
are two litle rockie Islands; and upon the North side of
the said point is another point called Punta de hidalgo,
and upon the top thereof are 2. picked rockes like unto the
eares of a Hare.
The course from the Canaries to the West Indies.
IF you set saile from any of the
Islands of the Canaries
for the West Indias, you must stirre away 30. or 40
leagues due South, to the ende you may avoid the calmes
of the
Island of Fierro: and being so farre distant from
the said Island, then must you stirre away West Southwest, untill you finde your selfe in 20. degrees, and then
saile West and by South untill you come to 15. degrees
and 1/2. And from thence stirre away West and by North;
and so shall you make a West way by reason of the
Northwesting of the Compasse: which West way will
bring you to the
Island of Deseada.
THIS
Island Deseada lieth East Northeast, and West
Southwest, having no trees upon it, and it is proportioned
like a Galley, and the Northeast ende thereof maketh a
lowe nose like the snowt of a galley; and by comming
neere it, and passing by the Norther ende thereof, you
shall perceive white broken patches like heapes of sand
with red strakes in them: & the Southwest end of this
Island maketh like the tilt of a galley. And this Island
standeth in 15. degrees and 1/2.
MONSERATE is an high Island, and round, full of trees, and
upon the East side thereof you shall perceive certain white
spots like sheetes: and being upon the South side at the
very point of the Island, somewhat off the land, it maketh
like a litle Island, and putting your selfe either East or
West from that point, in the midst thereof will appeare a
great broken land.
MARIGALANTA is a smooth Island, and full of wood or
trees, and as it were of the fashion of a galley upon her
decke: and being on the Southeast side about half a
league off you shall make certaine homocks of blacke
stones, and certain white patches: but on the West side
appeare faire white sandy shores or plaines.
THE
Island of Dominica lieth Northwest and Southeast,
and upon the Northwest side it sheweth more high: and
if you come neere it at full sea, it will shew like two
Islands, but by comming neerer unto it, you shall perceive
it to be but one: and upon the Southeast side you shall
make or see a plaine and long point, and upon the same
point appeareth a cliffe like to the cliffe of
Cape Tiburon;
and upon the North side a litle from the land it sheweth
like a litle Island, and upon the top thereof is, as it were,
an high steeple, and upon the Norther side you shall
perceive it like many white sheetes.
THE
Island of Guadalupe lieth on the West of Deseada,
and upon the Southwest part thereof appeare many hie
mountaines, but upon the East side it maketh certaine
tables, which are called the high part of Guadalupe
. And
this Island is cut North and South; so that the Canoas of
India do passe from the North to the South of it, as if it
were two Islands.
THE
Isle of Matalina is high and full of mountaines,
having in the midst thereof 3. homocks: the middlemost
homocke being highest sheweth like the great bowle of an
hat. And upon the North side it appeareth like three
little Islands. And in this Island there are warlike
Indians like those of Dominica
.
Markes of the three small Islands called Islas de Los
Santos, or the Islands of Saintes.
Los Santos are 3. Islandes lying one close by another
upon the South side of Guadalupe
. For to goe with S.
Juan de Puerto rico you must stirre away Northwest,
untill you fall with the
Isle of Saba.
SABA
is a litle Island, and round about it you shall see the
bottome; but feare not, for there is no danger but that
which you shall see; and round about it, it maketh as it
were certaine heapes of white sand; and by the side
thereof it sheweth like a Ship under saile: but follow that
direction that I have given, and you shall see La virgin
gorda.
Markes to know the Isle called La virgin gorda.
LA virgin gorda is an high Island and round, and seeing
it, you shall espie all the rest of the Virgines which lye
East and West one from another, and are bare without
any trees. You may goe about by them until you see the
litle gray Island, which you shal see by it selfe by the
Virgines; and comming neere to the sayd Island, over
that you shall by and by rayse sight of the white litle
Island, which seemeth like a ship under saile. And if
you will passe betweene this litle white Island or bare
rocke, and the greene Island, you must beware that you
leave the white Island on the larbourd side of you, and
come no neerer it then a Caliever-shot, and so shall you
passe through 12. fadome-water: and then stirre away
Northnorthwest, and so shall you enter into the Haven of
Puerto rico: and if you chance to passe the sayd Island by
night, goe by the foresaid direction, untill the first watch
be out, and then take in your sayles, and so drive untill it
bee neere day: and then hoise sayles, and stirre away
Southwest, seeking the sayde Port: and when you come
to the entring within, you must stay till 10. of the clocke
for the sea-turne. And know, that having the Loguilo at
Southwest, then shall the Harbour be off you North and
South.
Directions from Monserate to Santa Cruz.
HE that departeth from Monserate to Santa Cruz, must
stirre away Westnorthwest : and by the same course you
shall seaze upon S. Juan de Puerto rico.
Markes to know the Isle of Santa Cruz.
SANTA Cruz
is an Island not very high, all full of homocks:
and comming with it at full sea, it will shew like the
Virgines : and upon the East side there are two homocks
higher then all the rest. And by this course you may goe
to the
Isle of S. Juan de Peurto rico; and having found
it, you may sayle along the South coast East and West,
untill you come to Cabo Roxo.
Markes to know Cape Roxo.
CAPE Roxo is a low Cape and trayling to the sea-ward,
having certaine heapes of broken ground thereon, which
are like a homocke and at full sea the same sheweth like
a litle Island from the land by it selfe, but comming neere
unto it, it will make all a whole land.
Directions from Cabo
roxo to the
Isle of Mona.
IF you will seeke Mona
from Cape roxo, you must stirre
away West and by North.
THE
Isle of Mona is a low, round, and smooth Island,
lying lowe by the sea, and full of trees: and to goe from
thence to the
Isle of Saona you must stirre away West;
and if you fall with it in the night season, and come any
thing neere the land, then stirre away West and by South,
untill it be neere day, that you may keepe your selfe by
the land; and if so be that in the Morning you see it not,
then stirre away Northwest, and so shall you finde it: and
if it be faire weather, and you perceive that the current
hath set you to the Southwest, then stirre away Northnorthwest, and so shall you goe cleare off the land.
IF you chance to see the
Isle of Saona, it is an Island
smooth with the sea, and lyeth Northeast and Southwest,
and you shall see the trees before you see the Island: and
on the Southwest end of this Island appeareth a great
high banke of white sand which is called the head of
Saona. And if you would come to an anchor, you may,
for all is cleare ground. And to go from this Island to
Santa Catelina, you must stirre away Northwest.
Markes of the Isle of Santa Catelina.
SANTA Catelina is a litle lowe Island all full of low rockes
even from the water, and hath not any trees, and it is
close by the land; and if you doe not run along the coast
of Hispaniola, you shall not see it: and from that Island
to goe to Saint Domingo, you shall sayle along as the
land lyeth, West and by North: and before you come to
the point called Causedo, you shall see certaine holes in
rockes, which lye alongst as the rocks doe that cast up the
water, which will shew like to the spouting of Whales.
And a litle ahead off that, you shall see the point of
Andresa: and ahead thereof the poynt of Causedo. This
poynt of Causedo lyeth lowe close by the water, and passing thereby, the coast will make to thee Northwest and
Southeast; and from thence to S. Domingo are 5.
leagues. And if the winde chop up at North upon you,
by meanes whereof you should be cast off from the coast
or Port, and that you happen to see the olde Mines (called
Sierras de las minas viejas) beare Northwest off you, and
The teates which are within the land be open of you, then
shal you be North and South with the harbour; and if
The old Mines beare North off you, then shall you be below
the harbour.
Directions from Saint Domingo to Nueva Espanna.
IF you will sayle from Saint Domingo in Hispaniola to
Nueva Espanna, stirre away Southsouthwest, until you
come up as farre as the point of Nizao: and from thence
stirre away Westsouthwest, and so you shall finde the
Isle
of Beata. And if you saile from this point of Nizao for
Ocoa, you must passe along the coast West and by North,
untill you come to Puerto Hermoso, or The beautifull
haven, which is 18. leagues distant from Saint Domingo:
and if you proceede from Puerto Hermoso for Nueva
Espanna, you must stirre away Southsouthwest, untill you
looke out for Beata and Alto velo.
BEATA is a small Island and not very high: you may passe
along the outside thereof, and there is no danger but that
you may see; and by and by you shall raise Alto velo:
and from thence you must stirre away West and by South,
to give a birth from the Islands called Los Frailes, or The Friers. And when you are as farre ahead as the Frailes,
then must you stirre away West and by North, and so
shall you goe right with Bacoa, and before you come to it,
you shall see high craggie cliffes, and at the descending of
them white paths like great sheetes; these high craggie
mountaines are called Las sierras de donna Maria. And
before you come to the sayde point of Bacoa, you shall
discover a little lowe Island even with the Sea and full of
trees, which is called Isla Baque.
Directions from Isla Baque to Cape Tiburon.
IF you will goe from the
Island Baque, or from the point
of Bacoa for
Cape Tiburon, or to the isle of Navaza, you
must stirre away Westnorthwest, and edge in somewhat
to the Northwest, and you shall passe betweene Navaza
and
Cape Tiburon.
Markes of Cape Tiburon, which is the Western cape of
Hispaniola.
CAPE Tiburon lyeth sliding downe to the Seaward, and
maketh a sharpe cliffe like the snout of a Tiburon or
sharke-fish; and upon the top thereof it appeareth like
white wayes with certaine gullets or draines upon it,
which are caused by the passage of the water from the
mountaine in the Winter time.
NAVAZA is a litle round Island full of low trees or shrubs,
and it lyeth East and West from
Cape Tiburon, and from
this small Island to go for Sierras de Cobre, or The
mountaines or mines of Copper upon the Southeast part of
Cuba
, you must stirre away Northnorthwest.
Directions from Cape Tiburon to Cabo de Cruz in Cuba
.
IF you will saile from
Cape Tiburon to
Cape de Cruz in
Cuba
, you must stirre away Northwest, and you shall see
the Sierras or mountaines de Cobre; and from thence you
may goe along the coast West towardes Cabo de Cruz;
and before you come at it you shall see The great Tarquino, and from this Tarquino you shall have to
Cape de
Cruz 30. leagues, and this great Tarquino is the highest
land upon all that coast; and then by and by you shall
see the lesser Tarquino, from whence to the foresayd Cape
you have 12. leagues, and so shall you goe discovering the
coast, untill you come to Cabo de Cruz.
Markes of Cabo de Cruz.
CAPE de Cruz is a low Cape full of shrubs; and from
thence Westward you shall see no land; for the distance
or bay is great between the sayd Cape and the Isles called
Los Jardines.
Directions from Cape de Cruz to Isla de Pinos.
IF you sayle from
Cape de Cruz to seeke the
Island of
Pinos, you must stir away Westnorthwest. And note,
that if in this course you happen to sounde, doe not feare;
for you have nine fathoms. If also going this course,
you meete with certaine little Islands upon the larboord
side, which are called The Caimanes, or The crocodiles,
having sight of them, stir away Northwest, and so shall
you finde the
Island of Pinos. And if by seeing the sayde
Islands called Caimanes you are amazed, you shall knowe
by the latitude, whither they bee the Jardines or no: for
if you finde your selfe in one and twentie degrees, then
bee you sure they are The Jardines, and then stir out
againe South, till you bee cleare of them; and when you
have brought them North of you, then may you stirre
away West, if it bee by day; if it bee by night, West and
by South, till you see the
Island of Pinos.
The markes of Isla de Pinos.
THE
Island of Pinos stretcheth it selfe East and West,
and it is full of homocks, and if you chance to see it at
full sea, it will shewe like 3. Islands, as though there
were divers soundes betweene them, and that in the
midst is the greatest; and in rowing with them, it will
make all a firme lande: and upon the East side of these
three homocks it will shewe all ragged; and on the West
side of them will appeare unto you a lowe point even with
the sea, and oftentimes you shall see the trees before you
shall discerne the point.
Directions from the Isle of Pinos to Cape de Corrientes.
IF you saile from the foresayde
Isle of Pinos to
Cape de
Corrientes, stir away West and by North; and before you
come to the sayd Cape upon the Northside of you, you
shall see certaine mountaines all full of homocks, which
are called Las Sierras de Guanaguarico, and that upon the
West part hath more homocks then that on the other.
Markes of Cape de Corrientes.
CAPE de Corrientes is a lowe Cape, though not so low as
the other part of the land that lyeth along by it; for it is
more lowe, and hath upon it 4. or 5. great splats like unto
oxen, and the very point of the Cape is all white sand:
and from thence Westward you shall discerne no lande,
for it maketh a great bay: and from hence you must saile
to
Cape de Sant Anton.
Markes of Cape de Sant Anton.
THE cape of Sant Anton is lowe by the sea, and all full of
shrubs or trees; and you shall see within the land a lake
of fresh water; and if you want water, there you may
water: and upon the North side of the said Cape you
shall discerne a palme tree higher then the rest of the
trees, and it sheweth round like a bowle at the top, like to
the top of a ship: and North from the Cape are certaine
sholdes which are 2. or 3. leagues long.
Directions from the Cape de S. Anton to Nueva Espanna
on the outside of the small Islands called Los Alacranes
or The Scorpions.
IF you will sayle from
Cape Sant Anton to Nueva Espanna
with a North winde, then stirre away Westnorthwest from
21. to 22. degrees, and then sound upon the pracel or flat;
and if you see by this direction, that you holde water,
then stir away Northwest, untill you lose the ground; and
then follow your course againe, untill you have brought
your selfe into 24. degrees and 1/2. and then saile West
untill you bring your selfe North and South with the
Isle
of Vermeja, or The red Isle: then stir away Southwest,
and by this way you shall finde Villa rica on the coast of
Nueva Espanna. And if by going this course you be in
19. degrees and 1/2. and chance not to see the lande, then
stir away West untill you see Villa rica, and from thence
saile you South for the harbour of S. Juan de Ullua: and
if you should be neere the land you must stir South and
by West towardes the same harbour. And if you chance
to see the Volcan or burning hill to beare west & by South
from you, then know, that the harbour of S. Juan de
Ullua shalbe East and west off you.
Markes of Villa rica.
VILLA rica standeth in 19. degres and 1/2. and the signes
thereof are certaine high hilles full of homocks of many
heads, which have on the top of them certain white
patches after the maner of white beaten wayes; and these
hils lie Northeast and Southwest. And if you doubt
whether these be the Sierras or hils of S. Martin, wet your
lead or sound, and if you finde bottome, they are the
Sierras of Villa rica: and saile you to the landward, and
looke by how much you come neerer the land, so much
will they seeme lower unto you: but so doe not the hilles
of S. Martin; for the neerer you come to them, the higher
will they appeare to you: and likewise if they be the hilles
of S. Martin, you shall not finde bottome, but even at land
it selfe.
Markes of Rio de las palmas, and of the river of
mountaines called Rio de las montannas.
IF you should chance to fall with Rio de las palmas, or
The river of palmes, or els with the river of Mountaines,
it is all a plaine lande, and full of trees and certaine
woodie homocks, and among them certaine heapes of
sand, and all this along by the sea side: and if you went
by land to the river of Panuco, you shall have many
mouthes or openings of plaias or strands, where also
are many lizas or oazy places, which stretch to
Rio
Hermoso.
You must beware what part soever you happen of this
coast to fall withall, to discover it, and although you
knowe it, you must sound the depth; because if the
windes bee Easterly, the current setteth there much to the
North: but if you should be 40. leagues at sea, then this
current setteth to the Northeast.
Markes of Rio Hermoso or The beautifull river.
IF you wil seeke the river called
Rio Hermoso, looking
well within the land, you shal see three homocks of an
high hill, and those two which are to the landward within,
are rounder then the other which is neerest the sea, for
that it is longer and bigger, and lyeth North and South,
and you shall be 4. leagues at sea when you shall see
them: and they are called The sierras, or mountaines of
Tamaclipa; and from thence to the river of Panuco there
is no high land, but all lowe and even with the sea, and
full of palme trees and other trees.
Markes of the river of Panuco.
IF you fall with the river of Panuco (betweene which and
the foresayde Villa rica standeth the Island called Isla de
Lobos or The Isle of seales) the markes bee these. From
the mouth of the river it maketh a great bay without, and
at the ende of this bay upon the Northside there is oazy,
low, and bare ground altogether without trees, and at the
out ende of the oazy lowe place upon the West side it
maketh a low homock like to a Lizards head: and when
you see the aforesayde cliffe, you shall bee in the opening
of the mouth of the sayd river, and then shall you see a
little low tower having on the top of it a crosse, which the
fishermen call Marien: and this barre hath on it 2. fathom
water, and 2. and 1/2. and you neede not to stay for the
tyde, for that it floweth not there: and that you may the
better knowe whether you bee in this bay which I have
mentioned, or not, you shall see certaine hils at
West
Southwest, which are called Las sierras de Tarquia; and
forthwith also you shall see the oazy place that I speake
of, which goeth to the mouth of the river where standeth
a towne called S. Luis de Tampice, and from thence to
Panuco you have 9. leagues by land.
The markes of Isla
de lobos, or The Isle of seales.
ISLA
de lobos is a small Island nothing so big as the
carde doth shew it, and in it is a litle grove or wood of
palme trees, and all the rest of the Island is without trees,
and round about it are sundry playas or strandes, and it
is inclosed round about with arrazifes or shoalds, and
chiefly toward the maine lande. And from thence to
Cape Roxo or The red Cape are 3. leagues. And if you
will come to anker at this Island to water, for that there is
water in it, you may ride on all the South side close by
the poynt that stretcheth to the Westward, and you may
passe by the East side of it, and ride in 22. fathom, and
untill you come to 15. fathoms, all is cleane ground.
Markes of the river of Tuspa.
IF you fall with the river of Tuspa, you must beware the
sholdes which run 5. or 6. leagues into the sea: and upon
this river of Tuspa within the lande there are high hilles
which lie Northeast and Southwest, and have their ending
upon the bay of Cassones: and upon the river you shall
perceive a white cliffe, which will shew unto you like the
castle of S. Juan de Ullua.
Markes of the river of S. Peter and S. Paul.
IF you chance to fall with the bay of Cassones, and upon
the river of S. Peter and S. Paul, take heede: for the
sayd bay is a deepe bay, and the hilles of Tuspa have their
ending upon this bay. And in the mouth of this river of
S. Peter and S. Paul are two homockes of white sand,
the Westermost being bigger then that on the Northeast.
And by and by you shall perceive the water to change
white which commeth out of the river, and sounding you
shall finde sande mixed with clay upon your lead; and
looke upon the West side, and you shall see the Sierras or
mountaines of S. Paul, which are two, and that on the
North side is higher then the other.
Markes of Almeria.
IF you should chance to fall or come upon the plaines of
Almeria
, it is a lande full of many homocks, some with
tuftes of trees on them, and some bare with white sand,
and in 60. fathoms you shall have clay or oaze, and in
30. fathom to the landward sand. And from thence to
Punta de hidalgo or Punta delgada the coast lyeth Northeast and Southwest.
Soundings of Villa rica.
IF you fall with
Villa Rica in 30. fathoms, you shall finde
clay or oaze, and in some places stones, and neere the
lande you shall have sand: and upon the port of S. Juan
de Ullua you shall have in some places clay or oaze, and
in some places herring bones, and in other places mase
and , and upon the rocks called Cabezas anegadas
you shall have small blacke sande at 17. fathom two
leagues from land. And if you see a coast that lieth Northeast and Southwest, and another Northwest and Southeast, you shall be upon S. Paul: and if you should be
upon Cabezas anegadas, you shall finde in 30. fathoms
great sand & blacke, and in 28. fathoms you shall have
the sand white like the shavings of free stone: and from
S. Paul to the barre of Vera Cruz it is clay or oaze, and
from thence to S. Juan de Ullua you have many deeps,
which at one sounding bring you clay, and at another
sand, and at another clay and mase together, and herring
bones: and in some 35. or 40. fathom you shal finde
rockie ground, and in some places sand, and in some other
places herring bones: and we call this Comedera de
pescado, or The foode of fishes.
The course from Cabo de Corrientes and Cabo de S.
Anton upon the West end of Cuba
, towards Nueva
Espanna, within the Isles called Los Alacranes, or The
Scorpions.
IF you saile from
Cape de Corrientes towarde Nueva
Espanna on the inside of The Alacranes, you must stir
West: and when you thinke you have sailed 35. or 40.
leag. you shall sound upon the pracel, and you shall come
upon many bristlings of waters, which, if it were faire
weather, would seeme a skull of fish. And before you
come out of the bristlings, if you sound you shal have
depth as I have sayd. If you goe from
Cape de S. Anton
by the inside of The Alacranes, you must stir away West
and by South, and you shall finde sounding in the same
order as I have sayd: you shall have white sand, and
neere the land you shall finde it like the shavings and
peckings of free stone, and white sand like houre-glassesand, and sometimes periwinkles or small shelles. Also
if you sound in deepe water, and on the sudden finde
rockes, then knowe that you are upon The Alacranes, and
then stir away Westsouthwest untill you finde cleane
ground, and til you bring your selfe into 18. or 20.
fathoms. And if you goe deeping your water, then stir
away West, and by these depths you shall go sounding;
and then taking your heigth by sunne or starre, you must
beware that you passe not 21. degrees & 1/3. or 2 . degrees
and 1/2. at the most; and in this heigth, and at 18. or 20.
fathoms you shall follow your way: and if you deepen water,
edge to the Northwestward, and if you alter more your
depth, edge to the Southwestward, untill you have gotten
so farre ahead as
Cape Sisal, and discovered the coast of
Campeche
, which coast lyeth North and South, and you
shall take up on your lead white sande like houreglasse
sand, and sometime periwinkles or small shelles; and by
and by you shall goe increasing depth, until you lose it,
and so shal you passe between the Triangle and the Sandy Iland.
The course betweene the Triangle and the Sandy Island
to S. Juan de Ullua.
WHEN you have lost your depth, stirre away Southwest to
fetch the Sierras or hils of S. Martin: and to knowe the
hils of S. Martin, there are 2. hils stretching Northeast
and Southwest, and the Southwest is greater then that on
the Northeast, but the Northermost hill is higher, and
maketh on the top a flat point and very high, and without
it, it hath an Island which is called Roca partida, or The
cloven rock: and if it be cleare, on the Southwest side an
high lande like a topsaile will appeare, and then shall you
bee North and South with The Pan or Loafe of Nisapa.
Note, that these Sierras or Hilles of Sant Martin are all
blacke and full of trees, and make no shewe as Villa rica
doth: And marke this, that by how much you come neerer
them, so much the higher will they shewe unto you:
neither shall you finde any bottome till you bee at the
very shore.
The course from Roca partida or The cloven rocke to
S. Juan de Ullua.
IF you depart from Roca partida or The cloven rocke for
Sant Juan de Ullua, you must stir away Westnorthwest,
and so shall you fetch or fall with the point of Anton
Mislardo: and if you happen to sound upon The sunken
rocks called Cabezas anegadas, you shall have black sand
and 17. fathom water, and you shall bee but a league from
the land, and if you bee 2. leagues from the land, you
shall have 34. fathoms.
The course from Sant Juan de Ullua in the bay of
Mexico
to Spaine in Europe
.
IF you depart from S. Juan de Ullua to Havana
, you must
stir away Northeast until you bring your selfe in 25.
degrees, and from thence you must stir away East from
the little Islands called Las Tortugas, untill you have the
sounding of them; and if you finde white sande very
small, you shall bee East and West with them, and if
your sounding bee shellie ground and periwinkles, or small
shelles or skales, then shall you be Northeast and Southwest, and the shelles or skales must bee red, and if at
some time you take up blacke sande, then are you North
and South with the sayd Tortugas.
Markes of The Tortugas.
IF you chance to fall with The Tortugas, they are 5. or 6.
little Islands of white sand, lowe and close by the sea,
saving one which hath on it some shrubs or bushes of
trees: and they are in 25. degrees.
The course from The Tortugas toward Havana
.
IF you depart from The Tortugas towards Havana
with a
fresh winde, you must stir away Southwest: and if it be
faire weather, and a small gale of winde, then stir South,
that the current may not draw you in, nor set you too
much to the Westward: and if you fall with Los Organos,
they are a ranke of high and low hilles with many sharpe
heads like unto Organ pipes and at the entring thereof on
the South side is Rio de puercos, or The river of hogs;
and at the further ende is the deepe bay called Baya
honda, and there is the round loafe or heape called El pan
de baya honda, that is to say, The loafe of the deepe bay:
and from this place untill you come to
Cape de S. Anton
all is sholdes and flats 4. or 5. leagues into the sea, even
as farre as the sayde Cape: and from Baya honda or The
deepe bay to Havana
, all the coast is full of high and lowe
hilles, which they call La Quadrilla de sierras, which is as
much to say, as A companie of hilles together like
souldiers on a heape; and more to the Eastward you shall
descry an high hill which is called El pan de Cabannas.
And if you fall with Havana
, you shall see on the Southwest side an hill called La meza de Marien, or the Table
of Marien; and if it be cleare, you shall see lower to the
Westwarde the heape or loafe that is called El pan de
Cabannas. You must note, that about Havana
it is all
lowe land even with the sea, till you come to Mesa de
Marien, and then looke well within the lande, and you
shall see 2. little round trees like to the teates of womens
breasts; and bringing your selfe North and South, you
shall be with the harborough of Havana
, and then shall
you soone perceive the tower that is upon the cliffes of
Havana
.
Markes of the haven or port called Puerto de Marien.
PUERTO de Marien is a harbour that you may enter into
without any danger or feare, but at the entrance thereof
you must borrow on the West side, by reason of the
rockes and shelves, and when you are within, then borrow
on the East shoare, and leave the other side, and so shall
you enter safe: and from this place to Havana
is all lowe
lande. Note, that if you overpasse the harborough of
Havana
to the Eastward, or if the current hath set you
past it by meanes of calmes, then shall you perceive at full
sea upon the coast certaine broken places like the enterances of harbours, because the lande is lowe; and comming neere the shoare you shall see in some places of the
coast Playas or strandes of sande which shewe like unto
Chipiona: and looking Eastward along the sea coast, you
shall see a round loafe which is called El pan de Matanzas
: and also you shall perceive in certaine places round
white heapes of sande called Barrancas. If you will
recover Havana
, go along the coast close by the lande,
for the current runneth very swift in the chanell, and there
is no feare but of that which you may see; for all the
coast is cleane ground.
The course from Havana
to Spaine.
IF you will saile from Havana
to Spaine, you must stirre
away Northeast, till you come to the head of The Martires
called La Cabeza de los Martires. If it chance before you
come to the said head, that the winde should chop up at
North on you, then stand to the Eastward, untill you
bring your selfe as farre ahead as Matanzas
; then cast
about to the West, to discover the lande of The Martires,
or of Florida
, that the current may not set you on The Mimbres : and if by chance you see The Pan de Matanzas
at ful sea, it hath these markes following. It is a round
heape or loafe, and high withall, and on the Westerne
side thereof, appeareth a rocke like to the head of a
Tortoise: and betweene this Pan and the hilles of Seluco,
there will appeare unto you a great broken lande, like as
it were sunken places, and upon the East side of this Pan
toward Punta de los Puercos it is all lowe lande, and you
shall see no high lande at all: and being so farre shot,
that this Pan de Matanzas shall beare Westnorthwest and
Southsoutheast off you, and being desirous also to avoyde
the furie of the current of the chanell of Bahama, stir
away Northnortheast, and by this course you shall passe
the chanell, and win the coast of Florida
.
Markes of the head of The Martires called Cabeza de los
Martires.
THE head of The Martires are three heapes of white sande
full of trees, and that in the midst hath on the top a
crowne, as it were of white sande, and is higher and
bigger then the other two: and to know whether you be
entred into the chanell, marke well how the coast lyeth off
you; and if you perceive that the coast beareth off you
East and West, you are not in the chanell; but if the
coast should beare off you Northeast and Southwest, then
are you in the chanell; and taking your heigth you shall
know: for if you finde your selfe in 24. degrees and 1/2,
then are you East and West with the head of The Martires: and if you see the coast beare off you Northeast and
Southwest, (as I have sayde) stir away 4. or 5. leagues
from the landward right off; and then stir away Northeast: and being in 28. degrees and a halfe, you shall be
shot out of the chanell, and then shall you be East and
West with
Cape de Cannaveral, or The Cape of Reedes.
The course to come through the chanell of Bahama
homeward for Spaine.
IF in Winter you should passe through the chanell of
Bahama for Spaine, stirre away the first Sangradura or
course Eastnortheast, and afterward East and by North,
and so shall you passe by the South side of Bermuda
: and
you must take heede that you goe these foure hundred or
five hundred leagues, because you shall not come neere the
said
Isle of Bermuda; & when you are gone this course,
then put your selfe in what heigth you will, and make
your way as you will your selfe. But if you passe the
chanell in the Summer time towards Spaine, stir away
Eastnortheast, and you shall passe by the North side of
Bermuda
; and when you have brought your selfe in 35.
degrees, stirre East and by North untill you bring your
selfe to 25. degrees and 1/2, and from thence stir away East
for the
Isle of Fayal or of Flores
.
THE Island
called Fayal
upon the Southwest side, maketh
an high hill or loafe like to the top of Brasilla in the
Island
of Terzera; and behinde that high Pike or loafe is an
harbour called Puerto Pini, and upon the East side it
maketh a little plaine Island; and upon the North side
there standeth a rocke or Island by it selfe. And from
this Island being one of the Azores
, you may shape your
course to which of the Islands you please, or to any other
place which you know.
IF you happen to fall with Flores
first, by this you shall
know it: the Island lyeth Northeast and Southsouthwest,
and the West ende thereof maketh a rocke or cliffe like the
cliffe of Tiburon; and comming neere the lande, you shall
see two little Islands neere the point of the lande; and to
the Northward of this cliffe or rocke a little from the land
you may ride and water; and betweene that and the
village, in every bay you may likewise ride and water:
and you shall see the water run into the sea in every part
that you looke on.
Now followeth the course and direction to saile from
Passage on the Northeast part of S. Juan de Puerto
rico, unto Havana
, by the North side of the Isle of
Hispaniola, and by The old chanell.
IF you depart from S. Juan de Puerto rico to seeke Cabo
del Enganno, you must stirre away Westnorthwest, and
so shall you see a round heape or loafe in the sea, which
lieth on the Southwest side of the gulfe of Semana; and
from thence it beginneth about the hill of the Cape del
Enganno, & this is the mouth of the gulfe. And if it
should be neere night when you see this lande, stir away
Northwest with a small sayle, because of certaine rockes
called Las Ovejas, or The Sheepe: and in the morning
cast about to see the land to the Southwestward; and if
when you see the land, it seemeth unto you a small island
at full sea like a round mountaine, then is it The cape
del Enganno: and from thence stir away West and by
North toward Cabo Franco.
Markes of Cabo Franco.
CABO Franco is a low Cape even with the sea, and hath
these markes * And from thence stir away West, and
you shall see an high mountaine, and on the top thereof
a cloudie homock like the top of a hat: and at the foote
of this hill is the haven or harbour called El puerto de
plata. And if you will goe into this port, you must leave
the Island on the West side, and then take heede of that
which you see, and borrow on the castles side. And from
thence to goe with the olde chanell, you must stirre away
Northwest, untill you come out of sight of lande, and then
stir away West and by North, and so shall you goe with
the lande of Baracoa, and here are hilles very high, which
make the teats which looke like 3. crownes. And you
shall passe betweene the
Isle of Tortugas, or Hinagua,
and the
Island of Jaico: and from thence run alongst the
coast Northeast and Southwest; and having doubled the
outmost high hill or mountaine, you shall see in the midst
thereof a round hill, and upon the Southwest side by the
sea you shall see a lowe even lande foure or five leagues
long, and a lowe point, and this point of the hill is called
La sierras de Cabanca; and then beginneth the bay of
Cayo Romano: and ahead the sierras you shall see a
rounde loafe which is in the midst of the same bay, and
ahead of that you shall see a hill flat on the top like a
table sixe or seven leagues, which hill is not very high,
and from these hilles to Cayo Romano you have five and
thirtie leagues, and you must stirre the one halfe of the
course Northwest, and the other halfe Northwest and by
West, and so shall you make or see the sayd Cayo
Romano upon the larboord side of you. Note, that from
Cayo Romano to Cabo de Cruz you have three leagues,
and they lie North and South one from another.
Markes of Cayo Romano.
CAYO Romano is an high Island, and lyeth Northeast and
Southwest, and stretcheth it selfe as it were 4. leagues:
and comming on it Northeast & Southwest, it maketh a
loafe or round heape or homock; in the midst there are
two saddles, as wee terme them, or lowe partitions, the
one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and
comming with it North and South, it maketh all one lowe
send or saddle in the midst. And if night should come on
you at this Cayo Romano, enter not the chanell, because
in the mid way is an Isle, flat, or Cayo
, which lyeth North
and South with Cayo Romana, and it is called Cayo
de la
Cruz: and at full sea you shall discerne a heath, which
this Cayo
hath in the midst of it, which is like to a saile;
but al night beare but your foresaile a glasse one way and
another glasse the other way untill it be day, and then
enter the chanell, and leave these Cayos, on the larbourd
side of you. Note, that if you bee within sight of the
Parcel, and see two litle Islands of white sand, that then
you are on the cantell of the Parcel: and if you goe more
a head coasting the Parcell, about fifteene leagues, you
shall see three Islands full of trees, which are called Las
Anguillas and all these three Islands beare North and
South one from another. Item from Cayo de Cruz to
Havana
, if it be by day, stir away West Northwest;
but if it be by night, then stir a point more to the
Westward: and if in this course you chance to see the
Parcell, feare not; for in the lowest water there are
sixe fathomes; then cast about to the Southwestward to
get out about two glasses, and then stir away Westnorthwest untill it be day and so shall you goe by the
Cayos: and in this course you must keepe twentie foure
leagues or thereabout. And from this Cayo de Cruz sixe or
seven leagues lyeth another Cayo
upon the Northeast and
by North, which is great and white, and all even: But
the point on the Southwest is smaller, and upon the said
point is a shrub or bush which sheweth like a saile : also
there is a banke of white sand along by the sea-side,
which in the middest thereof maketh a cliff full of trees
that seemeth like a sadle: and upon the Northeast side
(for on this maner the coast lyeth along from the Cape)
going by the chanell you shal see certaine hilles eighteene
or twentie leagues long lying Northeast and Southwest
being all saddle-like: and bringing the poynt Southwest
off you, you shall be in the middest of the chanell: and
from thence you have as farre to Matanzas
as to Cayo
Romano. Likewise from thence on the side of Havana
you shall see certaine hilles which shewe to be three, and
ly Northeast and Southwest, and that on the Southwest is
highest: they are called Las Sierras de Guana: and North
and South from them lyeth a flat, which is called Cayo de
Nicola, which stretched out two leagues into the Sea, and
in the middle of the sayde flatte there is a little Island of
white sand: and from thence you must sayle to Cruz del
Padre.
Markes of Cruz del Padre.
CRUZ del Padre is a Cape all broken in pieces: and from
thence you must stir away Northeast, because of the Bay
that is there, called the Bay of Conell, and this Bay
stretcheth to the Bay of Caos, which is within 20 leagues
of the sayd poynt: and then stir away West Northwest
to goe with the Port of Matanzas, and with the hilles of
Camoniaca.
Markes of the hilles of Camoniaca.
THE hilles of Camoniaca ly Northwest and Southeast, and
the Southeast side is lowe land and even: also upon the
Northeast side it is even land, and runneth towards the
Bay of Matanzas, and in the middle of these hilles there
is one high hill, and upon the Northeast side there appeareth a round heape: and if you see this hill at
West
Southwest, the Pan or round heape of Matanzas
will
beare off you West and by South.
Markes of the round hill called El pan de Matanzas
.
THIS Pan is a round heape standing on a lowe land and
if you bring your selfe North and South with it, it will
make you two saddles; and on the West side it maketh
a great parted lande as it were sinking with the sea.
Note that wheresoever you shall goe to seeke the Tortugas, and shall come with the coast and finde it beare off
you Northeast and Southwest, I advise you to goe along
the coast to the Southwestward: you may not deepen
more then fortie five fathomes, for if you doe, you shall
cast your selfe without the Tortugas.
Also you must note, that if by chance you finde your
selfe shotte betweene the Tortugas, and the Martyres,
and that you cannot goe on the out-side of the sayde
Tortugas, then cause one to goe to the top, to see if you
can descry them; and if you cannot see them, stir away
Southwest untill you see them; and having gotten sight
of them, sounde, and you shall finde eighteene or ninteene fathomes : and so sholding stir away South and by
West, and goe by this course. And feare you not the
sholding, for you shall meete with 12 fathoms, and shall
have blacke sand in your sounding. And going neerer to
the ende of the said Tortugas (for hee that is on the
toppe shall see them all) as you passe by, you shall finde
but eight fathomes, and stony ground, and that is the
sholdest water you shall have. And you shall passe by
a bustling of a tyde, that shoules out of the chanel that
way: but you neede not feare any thing for you shall have
no lesse then eight fathome water: and being past the
said bustling but a minion shot, you shal loose the ground
and be in the chanell.
An advertizment.
WHEN you shall passe this course, goe not out of sight
of the Tortugas. And if you will goe from thence to
Havana
, having a faire winde, stir away Southwest because the current may not set you off: and if with a fresh
winde and Northerly, then stir away Southerly.
