Nov. 1684Monsieur de la Sale being recover’d had several Conferences with these Gentlemen, relating to his Voyage. A Consult of Pilots was called to resolve where he should touch before we came upon the Coast of America, and it was resolved to steer directly for the Western Point of the Island of Cuba, or for Cape St. Antony, distant about 300 Leagues from Hispaniola, there to expect the proper Season, and a fair Wind to enter the Gulph or Bay, which is but Two hundred Leagues over.
The next Care was to lay in Store of other Provisions, in the Room of those which were lost, and Monsieur de la Sale was the more pressing for us to imbark, because most of his Men deserted, or were debauch’d by the Inhabitants of the Place; and the Vessel call’d l’ Aimable, being the worst Sailer of our little Squadron, it was resolv’d that should carry the Light, and the others to follow it. Monsieur de la Sale, Monsieur Cavelier his Brother, the Fathers Zenobius[44] and Anastasius, both Recolets, Monsieur Chedeville and I imbark’d on the said Aimable and all sail’d the 25th of November.
We met with some Calms, and some violent Winds, which nevertheless carry’d us in Sight of the Island of Cuba, on the 30th of the same Month, and it then bore from us N. W. There we alter’d our Course and steer’d W. and by N. The 31st, the Weather being somewhat close, we lost Sight of that Island, then stood W. N. W. and the Sky clearing up, made an Observation at Noon, and found we were in 19 Degrees, 45 Minutes of North Latitude: by which we judg’d that the Currents had carry’d us off to Sea from the Island of Cuba.
Dec. 1684On the first of December we discovered the Island Cayman.Cayman Island. The 2d we steer’d N. W. and by W. in order to come up with the Island of Cuba in the Northern Latitude of 20 Degrees 32 Minutes. The 3d we discovered the little Island of Pines,Island of Pines. lying close to Cuba. The 4th, we weather’d a Point of that Island, and the Wind growing scant, were forc’d to ply upon a Bowling, and make several Trips till the 5th at Night, when we anchor’d in a Creek, in 15 Fathom Water, and continued there till the 8th.
During that short Stay, Monsieur de la Sale went Ashore with several Gentlemen of his Retinue on the Island of Pines, shot an Alligator dead, and returning Aboard, perceiv’d he had lost two of his Voluntiers, who had wander’d into the Woods, and perhaps lost their Way. We fired several Musquet Shots to call them, which they did not hear, and I was order’d to expect them ashore, with 30 Musquetiers to attend me. They return’d the next Morning with much Trouble.
Alligator eaten.In the mean Time, our Soldiers, who had good Stomachs, boil’d and eat the Alligator, Monsieur de la Sale had kill’d. The flesh of it was white and had a Taste of Musk, for which Reason I could not eat it. One of our Hunters kill’d a wild Swine,Wild Swine. which the Inhabitants of those Islands call Maron. There are of them in the Island of Santo Domingo, or Hispaniola, they are of the Breed of those the Spaniards left in the Islands when they first discover’d them, and run wild in the Woods. I sent it to Monsieur de la Sale, who presented the one Half to Monsieur de Beaujeu.
That Island is all over very thick wooded,Island of Pines. the Trees being of several Sorts, and some of them bear a Fruit resembling the Acorn, but harder. There are Abundance of Parrots, larger than those at Petit Gouave, a great Number of Turtle Doves and other Birds, and a Sort of Creatures resembling a Rat, but as big as a Cat, their Hair reddish. Our Men kill’d many of them and fed heartily on them, as they did on a good Quantity of Fish, wherewith that Coast abounds.
We imbark’d again, as soon as the two Men who had stray’d were return’d, and on the 8th; being the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, sail’d in the Morning, after having heard Mass, and the Wind shifting were forc’d to steer several Courses. The 9th we discover’d Cape Corrientes, of the Island of Cuba; where we were first becalm’d; and then follow’d a stormy Wind, which carried us away five Leagues to the Eastward. The 10th we spent the Night, making several Trips. The 11th, the Wind coming about, we weather’d Cape Corrientes,The Capes Corrientes and St. Antony. to make that of St. Antony; and at length, after plying a considerable Time, and sounding, we came to an Anchor the 12th, upon good Ground, in fifteen Fathom Water, in the Creek form’d by that Cape, which is in 22 Degrees of North Latitude and 288 Degrees 35 Minutes of Longitude.
We stay’d there only till next Day, being the 13th,[45] when the Wind seem’d to be favourable to enter upon the Bay of Mexico. We made ready and sail’d, steering N. W. and by N. and N. N. W. to weather the said Cape and prosecute our Voyage: But by that Time we were five Leagues from the Place of our Departure, we perceiv’d the Wind shifted upon us, and not knowing which Way the Currents sate, we stood E. and by N. and held that Course till the 14th, when Monsieur de Beaujeu, who was aboard the Joly, join’d us again, and having confer’d with Monsieur de la Sale about the Wind’s being contrary, proposed to him to return to Cape St. Antony, to which Monsieur de la Sale consented, to avoid giving him any Cause to complain, tho’ there was no great Occasion for so doing, and accordingly we went and anchor’d in the Place from whence we came.
The next Day, being the 15th, Monsieur de la Sale sent some Men ashore, to try whether we could fill some Casks with Water. They brought Word, they had found some in the Wood, which was not much amiss, but that there was no Conveniency for rowling of the Casks; for which Reason Rundlets were sent, and as much Water brought in them, as fill’d six or seven of our Water Casks.