thus, every other day interchangeable; the other half being enjoined to
the necessary works, about our ship and pinnaces, and the providing of
fresh victuals, fish, fowl, hogs, deer, conies, etc., whereof there is
great plenty. Here our smiths set up their forge, as they used, being
furnished out of England, with anvil, iron, coals, and all manner of
necessaries, which stood us in great stead.


At the end of these fifteen days (5th September), our Captain leaving
his ship in his brother's charge, to keep all things in order; himself
took with him, according to his former determination, two pinnaces for
Rio Grande, and passing by Cartagena but out of sight, when we were
within two leagues of the river, we landed (8th September), to the
westward on the Main, where we saw great store of cattle. There we found
some Indians, who asking us in friendly sort, in broken Spanish, "What
we would have?" and understanding that we desired fresh victuals in
traffic; they took such cattle for us as we needed, with ease and so
readily, as if they had a special commandment over them, whereas they
would not abide us to come near them. And this also they did willingly,
because our Captain, according to his custom, contented them for their
pains, with such things as they account greatly of; in such sort that
they promised, we should have there, of them at any time what we would.

The same day, we departed thence to Rio Grande [Magdalena], where we
entered about three of the clock in the afternoon. There are two entries
into this river, of which we entered the western most called _Boca
Chica_. The freshet [current] is so great, that we being half a league
from the mouth of it, filled fresh water for our beverage.

From three o'clock till dark at night, we rowed up the stream; but the