The same Men reported, that they had found a glass Bottle, and in it a little Wine, or some other Liquor, almost dead. This was all the Provision we found in that Place, by which it appears, how much Monsieur Tonti was misinform’d,Mistake in Monsieur Tonti’s Account of the Voyage. since in his Book, Pag. 242, he says, we found in that Island several Tun of Spanish Wine, good Brandy and Indian Wheat, which the Spaniards had left or abandon’d; and it is a meer Invention without any Thing of Truth.
The 16th, the Weather being still Calm, the Men went ashore again for five or six more Casks of Water. I was to have gone with them, had not an Indisposition, which I first felt in the Island of Pines, and afterwards turn’d to a tertian Ague, prevented me. Therefore I can give no Account of that Island, any further than what I could see from the Ships, which was Abundance of that Sort of Palm-Trees, in French call’d Lataniers, fit for nothing but making of Brooms, or scarce any other Use. That day we saw some Smoaks, far within the Island, and guess’d they might be a Signal of the Number of our Ships, or else made by some of the Country Hunters, who had lost their Way.
The next Night preceding the 17th, the Wind freshning from the N. W. and starting up all on a sudden, drove the Vessel call’d la Belle upon her Anchor, so that she came foul of the Boltsprit of the Aimable, carrying away the Spritsail-Yard and the Spritsail-Top-Sail-Yard, and had not they immediately veer’d out the Cable of the Aimable, the Vessel la Belle would have been in danger of perishing, but escap’d with the Loss of her Mizen, which came by the Board, and of about a hundred Fathoms of Cable and an Anchor.
The 18th, the Wind being fresh, we made ready, and sail’d about Ten in the Morning, standing North and N. and by W. and held our Course till Noon; the Point of Cape St. Anthony bearing East and West with us, and so continu’d steering North-West, till the 19th at Noon, when we found our selves in the Latitude of 22 Degrees 58 minutes North, and in 287 Degrees 54 Minutes Longitude.
Finding the Wind shifting from one Side to another, we directed our Course several Ways, but that which prov’d advantageous to us, was the fair Weather, and that was a great Help, so that scarce a Day pass’d without taking an Observation.
The 20th, we found the Variation of the Needle was 5 Degrees West, and we were in 26 Degrees 40 Minutes of North Latitude and 285 Degrees 16 Minutes Longitude. The 23th it grew very cloudy,[46] which threaten’d stormy Weather, and we prepar’d to receive it, but came off only with the Apprehension, the Clouds dispersing several Ways, and we continu’d till the 27th in and about 28 Degrees 14 Minutes, and both by the Latitude and Estimation it was judg’d, that we were not far from Land.
The Bark call’d la Belle was sent out to discover and keep before, sounding all the Way; and half an Hour before Sun-set, we saw the Vessel la Belle put out her Colours and lie by for us. Being come up with her, the Master told us, he had found an Owzy Bottom at thirty two Fathom Water. At eight of the Clock we sounded also, and found forty Fathom, and at ten, but twenty five. About Midnight, la Belle sounding again, found only seventeen, which being a Demonstration of the Nearness of the Land, we lay by for the Joly, to know what Monsieur de Beaujeu design’d, who being come up, lay by with us.
The 27th, Monsieur de Beaujeu sent the Chevalier d’Aire, his Lieutenant, and two Pilots to Monsieur de la Sale, to conclude upon the Course we were to steer, and it was agreed we should stand West North West till we came into six Fathom Water; that then we should run West, and when we had discover’d the Land, Boats should be sent to view the Country. Matters being thus agreed on, we sail’d again, sounding all the Way for the more Security, and about ten, were in ten or eleven Fathom Water, the Bottom fine greyish Sand and owzy. At Noon, were in 26 Degrees[47] 37 Minutes of North Latitude.
The 28th, being in eight or nine Fathom Water, we perceiv’d the Bark la Belle, which kept a Head of us, put out her Colours, which was the Signal of her having discover’d Something. A Sailor was sent up to the Main-Top, who descry’d the Land, to the N. E. not above six Leagues Distance from us, which being told to Monsieur de Beaujeu, he thought fit to come to an Anchor.
There being no Man among us who had any Knowledge of that Bay, where we had been told the Currents were strong, and sate swiftly to the Eastward, it made us suspect that we were fallen off, and that the Land we saw must be the Bay of Apalache, which oblig’d us on the 29th to steer W. N. W. still keeping along the Land, and it was agreed that the Joly should follow us in six Fathom Water.