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, 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, 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.
[Sidenote: _The Capes_ Corrientes _and St._ Antony.]
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_, 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.