Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/79

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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.

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, 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