The 12th we came to a bay to eastwards of Cape Pargos, (Barbas?) which is 35 leagues from Cape Blanco, but being unacquainted with that part of the coast, we proceeded to Cape Blanco, off which we had 16 fathoms two leagues from shore, the land being very low and all white sand.  At this place it is necessary to beware of going too near shore, as when in 12 or 10 fathoms you may be aground within two or three casts of the lead.  Directing our course on the 17th S. and S. by E. we fell into a bay about 16 leagues east of Cape Verd, where the land seemed like a great number of ships under sail, owing to its being composed of a great number of hummocks, some high some low, with high trees upon them.  When within three leagues of the land we sounded and had 28 fathoms over a ground of black ouze.  This day we saw much fish in sundry sculs or shoals, swimming with their noses at the surface.  Passing along this coast we saw two small round hills about a league from the other, forming a cape, and between them great store of trees, and in all our sailing we never saw such high land as these two hills.  The 19th we came to anchor at the cape in a road, fast by the western side of two hills[294], where we rode in 10 fathoms, though we might safely have gone into five or six fathoms, as the ground is good and the wind always blows from the shore.

[Footnote 294:  The paps of Cape Verd are about a League S.S.E. from the extreme west point of the Cape.—­E.]

At this place some of our officers and merchants went on shore with the boat unarmed, to the number of about 20 persons, among whom were Mr George Fenner the general, his brother Edward Fenner, Thomas Valentine, John Worme, and Francis Leigh, merchants, John Haward, William Bats, Nicholas Day, John Thomson, and several others.  At their coming on shore they were met by above 100 negroes armed with bows and arrows.  After some talk pledges were interchanged, five of the English being delivered into their hands, and three negroes taken on board the admirals skiff.  Our people mentioned the merchandize they had brought, being linen and woolen cloth, iron, cheese, and other articles; on which the negroes said that they had civet, musk, gold, and grains to give in exchange, with which our people were well pleased.  The negroes desired to see our merchandize, on which one of the boats was sent back to the ships, while our general and merchants remained in the other with the three negroe pledges, our five men walking about on shore among the negroes.  On the return of the boat from the ship with goods, bread, wine, and cheese were distributed among the natives.  At this time two of the negroe pledges, on pretence of sickness, were allowed to go on shore, promising to send two others in their stead.  On perceiving this, Captain Haiward began to dread some perfidy, and retreated towards the boat, followed by two or three negroes, who stopped him from going on board, and made signs for him to bring them more