Places, I have before obſerved, it was hazardous to think of, or rather impracticable; Princes had been a ſower Grape to them, but being the firſt in the Way, ſhe came before the Harbour the 29th, where learning no News, without looſing Time, ſteered for the River Gabone, and anchored at the Mouth of it February the 1ſt.
This River is navigable by two Channels, and has an Iſland about five Leagues up, called Popaguays or Parrots, where the Dutch Cruiſers, for this Coaſt, generally Clean, and where ſometimes Pyrates come in to look for Prey, or to Refit, it being very convenient, by Reaſon of a ſoft Mud about it, that admits a Ship’s lying on Shore, with all her Guns and Stores in, without Damage. Hither Captain Ogle ſent his Boat and a Lieutenant, who ſpoke with a Dutch Ship, above the Iſland, from whom he had this Account, viz. That he had been four Days from Cape Lopez, and had left no Ship there. However, they beat up for the Cape, without regard to this Story, and on the 5th, at Dawning, was ſurprized with the Noiſe of a Gun, which, as the Day brightened, they found was from Cape Lopez Bay, where they diſcovered three Ships at Anchor, the largeſt with the King’s Colours and Pendant flying, which was ſoon after concluded to be Mr. Roberts and his Conſorts; but the Swallow being to Windward, and unexpectedly deep in the Bay, was obliged to Steer off, for avoiding a Sand, called the French Man’s Bank, which the Pyrates obſerved for ſome Time, and raſhly interpreting it to be Fear in her, righted the French Ranger, which was then on the Heel, and ordered her to chaſe out in all haſt, bending ſeveral of their Sails in the Purſuit. The Man of War finding they had fooliſhly miſtaken her Deſign, humoured the Deceit, and kept off to Sea, as if ſhe had been really afraid, and managed her Steerage ſo,
