salt aboard for my voyage: in which time there came also into this road
several sail of merchants ships for salt; all bound with it for
Newfoundland.

THE AUTHOR'S ARRIVAL AT ST. JAGO; PRAYA AND ST. JAGO TOWN.

The 19th day of February, at about one o'clock in the morning, I weighed
from Mayo Road in order to water at St. Jago, which was about 5 or 6
leagues to the westward. We coasted along the island St. Jago and passed
by the port on the east of it I mentioned formerly which they call Praya;
where some English outward-bound East-Indiamen still touch, but not so
many of them as heretofore. We saw the fort upon the hill, the houses and
coconut-trees: but I would not go in to anchor here because I expected
better water on the south-west of the island at St. Jago Town. By eight
o'clock in the morning we saw the ships in that road, being within 3
leagues of it: but were forced to keep turning many hours to get in, the
flaws of wind coming so uncertain; as they do especially to the leeward
of islands that are high land. At length two Portuguese boats came off to
help tow us in; and about three o'clock in the afternoon we came to an
anchor and took the prospect of the town. We found here, besides two
Portuguese ships bound for Brazil whose boats had towed us in, an English
pink that had taken in asses at one of the Cape Verde Islands and was
bound to Barbados with them. Next morning I went ashore with my officers
to the governor, who treated us with sweetmeats: I told him the occasion
of my coming was chiefly for water; and that I desired also to take in
some refreshments of fowls, etc. He said I was welcome, and that he would
order the townsmen to bring their commodities to a certain house, where I
might purchase what I had occasion for: I told him I had not money but
would exchange some of the salt which I brought from Mayo for their
commodities. He replied that salt was indeed an acceptable commodity with