A Voyage to New Holland | Page 8

and who design to take in but little wine, to touch rather at these last;
where also they may be supplied with wine enough, good and cheap:
and, for my own part, if I had known before I came hither, I should
have gone rather to one of those islands than to Tenerife: but enough of
this.
AND THE GOVERNORS AT LAGUNA AND SANTA CRUZ.
It is reported they can raise 12,000 armed men on this island. The
governor or general (as he is called) of all the Canary Islands lives at
Laguna: his name is Don Pedro de Ponto. He is a native of this island,
and was not long since President of Panama in the South Seas: who
bringing some very rich pearls from thence, which he presented to the
Queen of Spain, was therefore, as it is said, made general of the Canary
Islands. The Grand Canary is an island much superior to Tenerife both
in bulk and value; but this gentleman chooses rather to reside in this his

native island. He has the character of a very worthy person; and
governs with moderation and justice, being very well beloved.
One of his deputies was the governor of Santa Cruz, with whom I was
to have dined; but staying so long at Laguna, I came but time enough to
sup with him. He is a civil, discreet man. He resides in the main fort
close by the sea. There is a sentinel stands at his door; and he has a few
servants to wait on him. I was treated in a large dark lower room, which
has but one small window. There were about 200 muskets hung up
against the walls, and some pikes; no wainscot, hangings, nor much
furniture. There was only a small old table, a few old chairs, and 2 or 3
pretty long forms to sit on. Having supped with him I invited him on
board, and went off in my boat. The next morning he came aboard with
another gentleman in his company, attended by 2 servants: but he was
presently seasick and so much out of order that he could scarce eat or
drink anything, but went quickly ashore again.
OF THE WINDS IN THESE SEAS.
Having refreshed my men ashore, and taken in what we had occasion
for, I sailed away from Santa Cruz on February 4 in the afternoon;
hastening out all I could, because the north-east winds growing stormy
made so great sea that the ship was scarce safe in the road; and I was
glad to get out, though we left behind several goods we had bought and
paid for: for a boat could not go ashore; and the stress was so great in
weighing anchor that the cable broke. I designed next for the Island of
Mayo, one of the Cape Verde Islands; and ran away with a strong
north-east wind right before it all that night and the next day, at the rate
of 10 or 11 miles an hour; when it slackened to a more moderate gale.
The Canary Islands are, for their latitude, within the usual verge of the
true or general tradewind; which I have observed to be, on this side the
equator, north-easterly: but then, lying not far from the African shore,
they are most subject to a north wind, which is the coasting and
constant trade, sweeping that coast down as low as to Cape Verde;
which, spreading in breadth, takes in mostly the Canary Islands; though
it be there interrupted frequently with the true tradewind, north-west
winds, or other shifts of wind that islands are subject to; especially
where they lie many together. The Pike of Tenerife, which had
generally been clouded while we lay at Santa Cruz, appeared now all
white with snow, hovering over the other hills; but their height made it

seem the less considerable; for it looks most remarkable to ships that
are to the westward of it. We had brisk north-north-east and north-east
winds from Tenerife, and saw flying-fish, and a great deal of sea-thistle
weed floating. By the 9th of February at noon we were in the latitude of
15 degrees 4 minutes so we steered away west-north-west for the island
of Mayo, being by judgment not far to the east of it, and at 8 o'clock in
the evening lay by till day. The wind was then at west by south, and so
it continued all night, fair weather, and a small easy gale. All these
were great signs, that we were near some land, after having had such
constant brisk winds before. In the morning after sunrise we saw the
island at about 4 leagues distance. But it was so hazy over it that we
could see but a small part of it;