town, for his better relief; in a very strong house of stone, where he
had dwelt nineteen years at least, never travelling from home; unless
happily once a year to Cartagena, or Nombre de Dios when the Fleets were
there. He keepeth a hundred slaves at least in the mines, each slave
being bound to bring in daily, clear gain (all charges deducted) three
Pesos of Gold for himself and two for his women (8s. 3d. the Peso),
amounting in the whole, to above 200 pounds sterling each day: so that
he hath heaped a mighty mass of treasure together, which he keepeth
in certain great chests, of two feet deep, three broad, and four long:
being (notwithstanding all his wealth) bad and cruel not only to his
slaves, but unto all men, and therefore never going abroad but with
a guard of five or six men to defend his person from danger, which he
feareth extraordinarily from all creatures.

"And as touching means of compassing this purpose, they would conduct
him safely through the woods, by the same ways by which they fled, that
he should not need to enter their havens with danger, but might come
upon their backs altogether unlooked for. And though his house were of
stone, so that it could not be burnt; yet if our Captain would undertake
the attempt, they would undermine and overthrow, or otherwise break
it open, in such sort, as we might have easy access to his greatest
treasure."

Our Captain having heard all their opinions, concluded so that by
dividing his company, the two first different sentences were both
reconciled, both to be practised and put in use.

JOHN OXNAM appointed in the _Bear_, to be sent Eastward towards Tolou,
to see what store of victuals would come athwart his half; and himself
would to the Westward in the _Minion_, lie off and on the _Cabecas_,