We were forced to go under an easy sail, as our prize sailed very heavily, wherefore we went into Sardinas Bay, in lat. 1 deg. 20’ N. where we anchored with our prize in ten fathoms, about four miles from the shore, for the purpose of rummaging her.  We durst not go farther in, because of many shoals and sand-banks, which were very imperfectly laid down in all our charts.  The sea-coast is inhabited by Indians, but not in any great numbers, and has several small fresh-water rivers.  From hence, all the way south, till we came to the Bay of Atacarnes, in lat. 0 deg. 54’ N. the sea-side is composed of white cliffs; and there are many shoals as far as Punta de la Galera, in lat. 0 deg. 48’ N. Six leagues S.W. of Sardinas Bay is the great river of St Jago, the mouth of which is about three quarters of a mile wide, but has no good anchorage till well within.  This river is seldom used by ships, being out of the way, yet the country here produces abundant provisions of all sorts.  We careened our ship and rummaged our prize in the Bay of Sardinas, and watered at one of the fresh-water rivers, which was as white as milk, and both smelt and tasted very strong of musk, occasioned by many alligators swimming in it.  We shot several of these creatures, one of which measured thirty feet in length, and was bigger about than a bullock.

The alligator is covered over with great scales from head to tail, having very large sharp teeth, and very long claws.  It is amphibious, living both on land and in the water, and when lying on shore is often mistaken at a distance for a great tree fallen down.  It runs very fast on the land, and is of such strength that one of them will take a horse or a cow into the water, and there devour it.  They will seize on any thing, either on land or in the water, and often make great havock among cattle near their haunts, which are usually in fresh-water rivers.  The Indians are not greatly afraid of them, either on land or in the water.  In the former case, they run in circles, and this unwieldy animal is unable to turn his body quickly, so that they easily get away from them.  The Indians also go into the water to seek them, taking in one hand a piece of iron pointed and baited at both ends, with two cross pieces a little below the points.  Holding this iron by the middle, when the alligator rises to bite, which he always does with, the head above water, the Indian holds out the iron to him which he snaps at, and it fastens in his mouth, keeping his jaws open like a gag.  The female lays about 100 eggs at a time, as large as goose eggs; but quite spherical, and having shells as thick almost as those of an ostrich.  The flesh of the alligator is not fit to be eaten, being very strong and musky; and the very water of the rivers they frequent was so strong of musk that a draught of it was like to suffocate us, yet there are no instances of its being injurious to health.