0063

They Reach Port Royal

The French sailed on and came to a river which they called Bellevue [Conspectu Bellum]. When they had gone another three or four miles, they were told that close by there flowed another stream, much bigger and much more beautiful than the others. They found this river so large and magnificent that they named it Port Royal [Portus Regalis]. Here they took in sail and came to anchor in ten fathoms.

The French commander landed with his soldiers in a beautiful country, well wooded with oak,cedar, and various other trees. The woods abounded in turkeys and deer.

The river mouth was three miles wide and divided into two arms, one going west and flowing to the sea, the other turning north and probably connection with the Jordan. Midway between the two branches lay an island pointing towards the river mouth.

Some time later the French sailed up the northern branch, and after going about twelve miles, they met with a group of Indians. As soon as the natives caught sight of the boats they fled, leaving behind a lynx's whelp--which they had been roasting--so the French named the place Lynx Point [Prom. Lupi]. Going still farther, they came to another branch of the river, which joined it coming from an easterly direction. As the commander wanted to explore this, he left the main channel.

Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT