Our Cimaroons (24th September) cut down Palmito boughs and branches, and
with wonderful speed raised up two large houses for all our company.
Our fort was then made, by reason of the place, triangle-wise, with main
timber, and earth of which the trench yielded us good store, so that we
made it thirteen feet in height. [Fort Diego.]
But after we had continued upon this island fourteen days, our Captain
having determined, with three pinnaces, to go for Cartagena left (7th
October), his brother, JOHN DRAKE, to govern these who remained behind
with the Cimaroons to finish the fort which he had begun: for which he
appointed him to fetch boards and planks, as many as his pinnaces would
carry, from the prize we took at Rio Grande, and left at the Cativaas,
where she drove ashore and wrecked in our absence: but now she might
serve commodiously, to supply our use, in making platforms for our
ordnance. Thus our Captain and his brother took their leave; the one to
the Eastward, and the other to the Cativaas.
That night, we came to an isle, which he called Spur-kite land, because
we found there great store of such a kind of bird in shape, but very
delicate, of which we killed and roasted many; staying there till the
next day midnoon (8th October), when we departed thence.
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