Neither Do I Think That There Is Any Safety
For Any Of Our Nation, Or Any Other, To Be Within
The limits of their
commandment; albeit they used us very kindly for those few hours of
time which we spent
With them, helping our folks to fill and carry on
their bare shoulders fresh water from the river to our ships' boats,
and fetching from their houses great store of tobacco, as also a kind
of bread which they fed on, called cassavi, very white and savoury,
made of the roots of cassavi. In recompense whereof we bestowed
liberal rewards of glass, coloured beads, and other things, which we
had found at Santiago; wherewith, as it seemed, they rested very
greatly satisfied, and shewed some sorrowful countenance when they
perceived that we would depart.
From hence we went to another island westward of it, called Saint
Christopher's Island; wherein we spent some days of Christmas, to
refresh our sick people, and to cleanse and air our ships. In which
island were not any people at all that we could hear of.
In which time by the General it was advised and resolved, with the
consent of the Lieutenant-General, the Vice-Admiral, and all the rest
of the captains, to proceed to the great island of Hispaniola, as well
for that we knew ourselves then to be in our best strength, as also
the rather allured thereunto by the glorious fame of the city of St.
Domingo, being the ancientest and chief inhabited place in all the
tract of country thereabouts. And so proceeding in this determination,
by the way we met a small frigate, bound for the same place, the which
the Vice-Admiral took; and having duly examined the men that were in
her, there was one found by whom we were advertised the haven to be a
barred haven, and the shore or land thereof to be well fortified,
having a castle thereupon furnished with great store of artillery,
without the danger whereof was no convenient landing-place within ten
English miles of the city, to which the said pilot took upon him to
conduct us.
All things being thus considered on, the whole forces were commanded
in the evening to embark themselves in pinnaces, boats, and other
small barks appointed for this service. Our soldiers being thus
embarked, the General put himself into the bark Francis as Admiral;
and all this night we lay on the sea, bearing small sail until our
arrival to the landing-place, which was about the breaking of the day.
And so we landed, being New Year's Day, nine or ten miles to the
westwards of that brave city of St. Domingo; for at that time nor yet
is known to us any landing-place, where the sea-surge doth not
threaten to overset a pinnace or boat. Our General having seen us all
landed in safety, returned to his fleet, bequeathing us to God, and
the good conduct of Master Carlile, our Lieutenant-General; at which
time, being about eight of the clock, we began to march.
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