Here was that goodly and great high Tree, in which they had cut and made
divers steps, to ascend up near unto the top, where they had also made
a convenient bower, wherein ten or twelve men might easily sit: and from
thence we might, without any difficulty, plainly see the Atlantic Ocean
whence now we came, and the South Atlantic [i.e., Pacific Ocean] so much
desired. South and north of this Tree, they had felled certain trees,
that the prospect might be the clearer; and near about the Tree there
were divers strong houses, that had been built long before, as well
by other Cimaroons as by these, which usually pass that way, as being
inhabited in divers places in those waste countries.

After our Captain had ascended to this bower, with the chief Cimaroon,
and having, as it pleased God, at that time, by reason of the brize
[breeze], a very fair day, had seen that sea, of which he had heard such
golden reports: he "besought Almighty God of His goodness, to give him
life and leave to sail once in an English ship, in that sea!" And then
calling up all the rest of our [17 English] men, he acquainted JOHN
OXNAM especially with this his petition and purpose, if it would
please God to grant him that happiness. Who understanding it, presently
protested, that "unless our Captain did beat him from his company, he
would follow him, by God's grace!"

Thus all, thoroughly satisfied with the sight of the seas, descended;
and after our repast, continued our ordinary march through woods, yet
two days more as before: without any great variety. But then (13th
February) we came to march in a champion country, where the grass
groweth, not only in great lengths as the knot grass groweth in many
places, but to such height, that the inhabitants are fain to burn it
thrice in the year, that it may be able to feed the cattle, of which
they have thousands.