Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/41

Rh to the East, that Winds from that side make a great Swell, and very bad going ashore in Boats: The Ships that ride here are then often forced to put to Sea, and sometimes to cut or slip their Anchors, not being able to weigh them. The best and smoothest Landing is in a small sandy Cove, about a mile to the N. E. of the Road, where there is good Water, with which Ships that lade here are supply'd; and many times Ships that lade at Oratavia, which is the chief Port for Trade, send their Boats hither for Water. That is a worse Port for Westerly than this is for Easterly Winds; and then all Ships that are there put to Sea. Between this Watering-place and Santa Cruz are two little Forts; which with some Batteries scatter'd along the Coast command the Road. Santa Cruz its self is a small unwalled Town fronting the Sea, guarded with two other Forts to secure the Road. There are about 200 Houses in the Town, all 2 Stories high, strongly built with Stone, and covered with Pantile. It hath two Convents and one Church, which are the best Buildings in the Town. The Forts here could not secure the Spanish Galleons from Admiral Blake, tho' they hall'd in close under the main Fort. Many of the Inhabitants that are now living remember that Action; in which the English batter'd the Town, and did it much Damage; and the marks of the Shot still remain in the Fort-Walls. The Wrecks of the Galleons that