order should be given them; that they would have marched by land, even
to this place, but that the way is very long, and more troublesome, by
reason of many steep mountains, deep rivers, and thick brakes: desiring
therefore, that it might please our Captain to take some order, as he
thought best, with all convenient speed in this behalf.

Our Captain considering the speech of these persons, and weighing it
with his former intelligences had not only Negroes, but Spaniards also,
whereof he was always very careful: as also conferring it with his
brother's informations of the great kindness that they shewed him,
being lately with them: after he had heard the opinions of those of best
service with him, "what were fittest to be done presently?" resolved
himself with his brother, and the two Cimaroons, in his two pinnaces, to
go toward this river. As he did the same evening, giving order, that
the ship and the rest of his fleet should the next morning follow him,
because there was a place of as great safety and sufficiency, which his
brother had found out near the river. The safety of it consisted, not
only in that which is common all along that coast from Tolou to Nombre
de Dios, being above sixty leagues, that it is a most goodly and
plentiful country, and yet inhabited not with one Spaniard, or any for
the Spaniards: but especially in that it lieth among a great many of
goodly islands full of trees. Where, though there be channels, yet there
are such rocks and shoals, that no man can enter by night without great
danger; nor by day without discovery, whereas our ships might be hidden
within the trees.

The next day (14th September) we arrived at this river appointed, where
we found the Cimaroons according to promise: the rest of their number
were a mile up, in a wood by the river's side. There after we had given
them entertainment, and received good testimonies of their joy and good