June.
THE 19 we fell with Dominica
, and the same evening we
sayled betweene it, and Guadalupe
: the 21 the Fly-boat
also fell with Dominica
.
The 22 we came to an anker at an Island called Santa
Cruz, where all the planters were set on land, staying
there till the 25 of the same moneth. At our first landing
on this Island, some of our women, and men, by eating a
small fruit like greene Apples, were fearefully troubled
with a sudden burning in their mouthes, and swelling of
their tongues so bigge, that some of them could not
speake. Also a child by sucking one of those womens
breasts, had at that instant his mouth set on such a
burning, that it was strange to see how the infant was
tormented for the time: but after 24 houres, it ware away
of it selfe.
Also the first night of our being on this Island, we
tooke five great Torteses, some of them of such bignes,
that sixteene of our strongest men were tired with carying
of one of them but from the sea side to our cabbins.
In this Island we found no watring place, but a standing
ponde, the water whereof was so evill, that many of our
company fell sicke with drinking thereof: and as many
as did but wash their faces with that water, in the morning before the Sunne had drawen away the corruption,
their faces did so burne and swell, that their eyes were
shut up, and could not see in five or sixe dayes, or
longer.
The second day of our abode there, we sent forth some
of our men to search the Island for fresh water, three
one way, and two another way. The Governour also,
with sixe others, went up to the top of an high hill, to
viewe the Island, but could perceive no signe of any
men, or beastes, nor any goodnes, but Parots, and trees
of Guiacum. Returning backe to our cabbins another
way, he found in the discent of a hill, certaine potsheards
of savage making, made of the earth of that Island:
whereupon it was judged, that this Island was inhabited
with Savages, though Fernando had told us for certaine
the contrary. The same day at night, the rest of our
company very late returned to the Governour. The one
company affirmed, that they had seene in a valley eleven
Savages, and divers houses halfe a mile distant from
the steepe, or toppe of the hill where they stayed. The
other company had found running out of a high rocke a
very fayre spring of water, whereof they brought three
bottels to the company: for before that time, wee drank
the stinking water of the pond.
The same second day at night Captaine Stafford, with
the Pinnesse, departed from our fleete, riding at Santa
Cruz, to an Island, called Beake, lying neere S. John,
being so directed by Ferdinando, who assured him he
should there find great plenty of sheepe. The next day
at night, our planters left Santa Cruz, and came all
aboord, and the next morning after, being the 25 of June
we weyed anker, and departed from Santa Cruz.
The seven and twentieth we came to anker at
Cottea,
where we found the Pinnesse riding at our comming.
The 28 we weyed anker at
Cottea, and presently came
to anker at S. Johns in Musketos Bay, where we spent
three dayes unprofitable in taking in fresh water, spending
in the meane time more beere then the quantitie of the
water came unto.