Chap: VII. </^W#-Indie£ 4$
with a monftrous Fiih called by the Spaniards* Tilaron. Some miftakc this Fiih for the Caiman, or Crocodile, holding then* both for one ; and thinking that it is only the .£alm*n or Cro~ codile (by abufe called Tihuron) which devoures mans fleih, $. whole joint at a bit in the water. But the iniftake is grois» for the Caiman is plated all over with fhells, whereas the Tihuron hath no fhells, but only like other other great Sea Fifties* hath a thick skin. The Caiman though the Indians cat of it, yet the Spaniards hate it ; who eat of the Tihmm ; and in our Ship catching one with a tridental Iron Fork, and haling him with a Cable Rope to the Ship fide, and then* binding him with it, (being as much as a dofen or fifteen men could do to hoife him up into the Ship) we found him to be a moft monftrous creature, twelve Ells long at lean, which we Salted, and found lik^wife to eat like Flefb, as hath been faid of the Torton. This kind isas ravenous after mansflefo as the Crocodile, and many of them were to be* feen in this Sound of Mexico*
The Spaniards Bathing themfelves dayly by the Ships fide, (where there is no fuch danger of the Tiburón ; who ufeth not to come-too near the Ships) one Mariner of the Ship cal- led St. francifco being more venturous then the reft» and of- fering to Swim from his Ship, to fee fpme friends in another not far off, chanced to be a moft unfortunate, prey to one of them, who before any Boat could be fee out to help him* was thrice feen to.be pulkd under water by the Monfter, who had devoured a leg, an arm, an$ pare of his fhouider • the reft of the body wss after found and takea up, and carried to St. Franclfco, and there buried in the form and manner as hath been faid of our Frier John dela C mv ^* They that go down to the fea in (hips, thefe fee the works of the Lord, and hü wonders in the deep, Pfalm 1 07. 2 ?, 24» Here they fhall fee not only Whales, but other Fifhes like Monfters mattering ftrong and valiant men, withfeveralfetsof ¿harp, ftrong and mighty teeth, devouring at one bit whole lims with fleihand bones together. This miichance (added all our Fleet for three days till it pleafed God to refrefh our burning heat with a cook and profperous wind^ driving ¿% q uc of that calm SouncL
which
