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mountains appeared very fertile; and in most places that we saw the trees
are very large, tall and thick. It is also very well inhabited with
strong well-limbed negroes, whom we found very daring and bold at several
places. As to the product of it I know no more than what I have said in
my account of Port Montague: but it is very probable this island may
afford as many rich commodities as any in the world; and the natives may
be easily brought to commerce, though I could not pretend to it under my
present circumstances.
SIR GEORGE ROOK'S ISLAND.
Being near the island to the northward of the volcano I sent my boat to
sound, thinking to anchor here; but she returned and brought me word that
they had no ground, till they met with a reef of coral rocks about a mile
from the shore. Then I bore away to the north side of the island where we
found no anchoring neither. We saw several people, and some
coconut-trees, but could not send ashore for want of my pinnace which was
out of order. In the evening I stood off to sea to be at such a distance
that I might not be driven by any current upon the shoals of this island
if it should prove calm. We had but little wind, especially the beginning
of the night; but in the morning I found myself so far to the west of the
island that, the wind being at east-south-east, I could not fetch it;
wherefore I kept on to the southward and stemmed with the body of a high
island about 11 or 12 leagues long, lying to the southward of that which
I before designed for. I named this island Sir George Rook's Island.
LONG ISLAND AND CROWN ISLAND, DISCOVERED AND DESCRIBED.
We also saw some other islands to the westward; which may be better seen
in my chart of these lands than here described. But, seeing a very small
island lying to the north-west of the long island which was before us,
and not far from it, I steered away for that; hoping to find anchoring
there: and, having but little wind, I sent my boat before to sound;
which, when we were about 2 miles distance from the shore, came on board
and brought me word that there was good anchoring in 30 or 40 fathom
water, a mile from the isle and within a reef of the rocks which lay in a
half-moon, reaching from the north part of the island to the south-east:
so at noon we got in and anchored in 36 fathom a mile from the isle.
In the afternoon I sent my boat ashore to the island to see what
convenience there was to haul our vessel ashore in order t
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