the Havana, so large that
few can compare to it; and twenty Leagues to the Eastward of it is
that of Matanzas, which is not very safe. About the middle of the
Island is another good Port, call'd del Principe, and almost at the
End that of Baracoa, where much good Ebony is cut; between which
there are other good anchoring places, tho' not large."

In a volume entitled "Voyages and Travels" and edited by Raymond
Beazley, there is a record of travels in Mexico 1568-1585 by one John
Chilton, which says on the title-page: "A Notable Discourse of Master
John Chilton, touching the people, manners, mines, metals, riches,
forces and other memorable things of the West Indies seen and noted by
himself in the time of his travels continued in those parts the space of
seventeen or eighteen years." He writes of Havana:

"Merchants after travelling from Nicaragua, Honduras, Porto Rico,
Santo Domingo, Jamaica and all other places in the Indies arrive
there, on their return to Spain; for that in this port they take in
victuals and water and the most part of their landing. Here they
meet from all the foresaid places, always in the beginning of May
by the King's commandment. At the entrance of this port, it is so
narrow that there can scarce come in two ships together, although
it be above six fathoms deep in the narrowest place of it.

"In the north side of the coming in, there standeth a tower in
which there watcheth every day a man to descry the call of ships
which he can see on the sea; and as many as he discovereth so many
banners he setteth upon the tower, that the people of the town
(which standeth within the port about a mile from the tower) may
understand thereof.

"Under this tower there lieth a sandy shore, where men may easily
go aland; and by the tower there runneth a hill along by the
water's side, which easily with small store of ordnance, subdueth
the town and port. The port within is so large that there may
easily ride a thousand sail of ships, without anchor or cable; for
no wind is able to hurt them.

"There inhabit within the town of Havana about three hundred
Spaniards and about sixty soldiers; which the King maintaineth
there, for the keeping of a certain castle which he hath of late
erected, which hath planted in it about twelve pieces of small
ordnance. It is com