Thus seeing that we were still molested, and no hope remained of any
purchase to be had in this place any longer; because we were now so
notably made known in those parts, and because our victuals grew scant:
as soon as the weather waxed somewhat better (the wind continuing always
westerly, so that we could not return to our ships) our Captain
thought best to go (3rd November) to the Eastward, towards _Rio Grande_
[Magdalena] long the coast, where we had been before, and found great
store of victuals.
But when after two days' sailing, we were arrived (5th November) at
the villages of store, where before we had furnished ourselves with
abundance of hens, sheep, calves, hogs, etc.; now we found bare nothing,
not so much as any people left: for that they, by the Spaniards'
commandments, had fled to the mountains, and had driven away all their
cattle, that we might not be relieved by them. Herewith being very
sorry, because much of our victuals in our pinnaces was spoilt by the
foul weather at sea and rains in harbour. A frigate being descried at
sea revived us, and put us in some hope for the time, that in her we
should find sufficient; and thereupon it may easily be guessed, how much
we laboured to recover her: but when we had boarded her, and understood
that she had neither meat nor money, but that she was bound for _Rio
Grande_ to take in provision upon bills, our great hope converted into
grief.
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