English and Irish Settlement on the River Amazon, 1550–1646 by Joyce Lorimer

Author:Joyce Lorimer [Lorimer, Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317143222
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2018-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

6. Report of a visit to the English and Irish Settlements Between 22nd October and 4th December 1623, by Walloon Settlers Brought Out to the River by the Dutch West India Company2

On Monday the 16th3 the wind South East and afterwards East South East — our course West South West, in order to enter the River

Amazons. At noon we reached 1 degree 35 minutes. At this time we caught sight of a ship which was coming the same way. Having joined it, we found it was Pieter Jansz of Flixingues [Flushing], who left Pleimouth4 before us. We went on together, our course to the West a quarter South. In the evening we again saw the North star.

On Tuesday the 17th the wind East a quarter South - our course West a quarter South. At noon we were but 1 degree 5 minutes North of the Line.

On Wednesday the 18th the same wind and the same course. At noon we were but 47 minutes. We now steered South West a quarter South.

On Thursday the 19th die wind East — our course as before. At noon we were North 35 minutes. We now noticed the water show pale and found the bottom at 23 fathoms, which made us run West. At 3 o’clock we sounded and found ten fathoms, sandy bottom; in the evening we found 8 fathoms, which made us run West a quarter North; at midnight we put to the North West to reach the Cap de Nord and two hours afterwards we anchored in 7 fathoms, sandy bottom.

On Friday the 20th at 6 o’clock in the morning we weighed anchor - the wind East - running North West. At noon we were in latitude 1 degree 53 minutes North. Two hours afterwards we saw the Cap de Nord to the West North West of us, land low and overflowed. It was 50 days since we had left Pleimouth. We made for the side which projects into the Amazon, and trends South South West, coasting all the time in 8, 7, or 5 fathoms of water. Very soon we saw the first island, towards which we ran and keeping to the right of it anchored about the middle.

On Saturday the 21st we weighed anchor, coasting along the island, so near that one could easily throw a stone upon it, which we did, also passing by the others but not so near, until having come to the right of the River of we crossed towards the island of Sapno, making for the village.1 This village has three long houses built on high piles on the edge of the river. The Maraons2 Indians told us that the Spaniards were up the river and that they had taken a Dutch ship near Sapanopoke,3 which set us pursuing them, after having obtained some fresh provisions; but Pieter Janss grounded himself on a sand-bank to the East of the village about two musket shots off, which forced us to anchor.

On Sunday Pieter Janss sent his pinnace towards Sapanopoke.

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