fines should be punctually paid; an agreement into which most of
us very thankfully entered.

THE WEST INDIES.

Next morning, the first object which met our eyes was the land of
Caycos island. We were so close to the shore, when daylight
discovered it, that had the wind been at all adverse we must
unquestionably have struck; but being assisted by a fair and
gentle breeze, the ships put about immediately, and escaped the
danger. Standing out to sea, the fleet now doubled the
promontory, and steering round by the other side, sailed on
without losing sight of the land till late in the evening.

On the following day, a signal was made from the Admiral's ship,
that the Golden Fleece transport, under convoy of the Volcano
bomb, should proceed to Port Royal, whilst the rest of the fleet
held their course towards Negril Bay. These two vessels
accordingly set all sail, and pushed forward by themselves; the
others keeping on at a more moderate rate, that none might stray
from the convoy: for the West India seas at this time swarmed
with American privateers, and it was of great consequence to keep
the store-ships and heavy transports in the middle of the
squadron.

It so chanced that I took my passage in one of the two ships
which proceeded forward by themselves. The wind was fair, and we
made great progress, insomuch that before dark the high land of
St. Domingo on one side, and the mountains of Cuba on the other,
were discernible. In spite of the heat, therefore, our voyage
soon became truly delightful. Secure of getting on under the
influence of the trade winds, we had nothing to distract our
thoughts, or keep us from feasting our eyes upon the glorious
shores of these two islands; whilst in addition to the sight of
land, which of itself was cheering, we were amused with
water-spouts, apparently playing about us in every direction.
One of these, however, began to form within a little distance of
the ship, and as they are dangerous as well as interesting, a
cannon was got ready to break it before it should reach us. But
it did not complete its formation, though I cannot tell why; for,
after one spout had risen into the air some height, and another
bent down from the clouds to meet it, they were suddenly carried
away in different directions, and fell into the sea with the
noise of a cataract.

Among other sources of amusement, our attention was drawn, on the
29th, to a shark, which made its appearance at the ster