great store of tobacco, as also a kind of bread which they fed on,
called cassavi, very white and savoury, made of the roots of cassavi. In
recompense whereof we bestowed liberal rewards of glass, coloured beads,
and other things, which we had found at Santiago; wherewith, as it
seemed, they rested very greatly satisfied, and shewed some sorrowful
countenance when they perceived that we would depart.

From hence we went to another island westward of it, called Saint
Christopher's Island; wherein we spent some days of Christmas, to
refresh our sick people, and to cleanse and air our ships. In which
island were not any people at all that we could hear of.

In which time by the General it was advised and resolved, with the
consent of the Lieutenant-General, the Vice-Admiral, and all the rest of
the captains, to proceed to the great island of Hispaniola, as well
for that we knew ourselves then to be in our best strength, as also
the rather allured thereunto by the glorious fame of the city of St.
Domingo, being the ancientest and chief inhabited place in all the tract
of country thereabouts. And so proceeding in this determination, by
the way we met a small frigate, bound for the same place, the which the
Vice-Admiral took; and having duly examined the men that were in her,
there was one found by whom we were advertised the haven to be a barred
haven, and the shore or land thereof to be well fortified, having a
castle thereupon furnished with great store of artillery, without the
danger whereof was no convenient landing-place within ten English miles
of the city, to which the said pilot took upon him to conduct us.

All things being thus considered on, the whole forces were commanded
in the evening to embark themselves in pinnaces, boats, and other small
barks appointed for this service. Our soldiers being thus embarked, the