Gods protecting providence, man's surest help and defence in the times of the greatest difficulty and most imminent danger evidenced in the remarkable deliverance of divers persons from the devouring waves of the sea, amongst which they suffered shipwrack : and also from the more cruelly devouring jawes of the inhumane canibals of Florida / faithfully related by one of the persons concerned therein, Jonathan Dickenson.

the 9 month 2. the 2 of the week.

This Morning about Sun-rising came two Strange In∣dians, who had run so hard that they Swea••ed ex∣treamely, of whom We understood that the Spani∣ards▪ were comeing with their Old Casse••key; Which News surprised us, doubting the truth of it, for Solo∣mon had been gone but Sixteen days, and We under∣stood that they must have an extraordinary passage to be here in a Month: We had not long to Consider of the Matter, for in an hour's time We heard four Mus∣ketts discharged, and immediately We looked out, and the Spaniards in their Perre-Ango were in sight. the Indians were like a people amazed and overcome with fear: We perceived the Noise of a Gun was terrible unto them. the Spaniards Landed being in number twelve, One Sebastian Lop••z Commanding••Tenn Sol∣diers, with one Indian an Interpreter. The Spaniards imbraced us very cheerfully, and expressed their being glad to find us alive. But We were not able to discourse each other, though We had so much Spanish

as to ask Questions, and answer some part of what they asked us. One of the Sp••niards said, they could not speak English, nor could We speak Spanish enough to understand each other sufficiently: This the Indians perceived and imediately cryed out, Nickaleer Nicka∣leer, and looked enviously. on us, so that, could they have had their wills, We believed they would not have suffered us to have liv••d many hours; but the Spaniards Awed them.

We received a Letter from Solomon which he wrist when he mett with Captain Sebastian Lopez, signifying the Gouvernment of Augusteen••s great care for our Pre∣servation, of what Nation soever We were. But how these persons, or the Gouvernour of Augusteen had know¦ledge of us, We could not understand; For they had been Fourteen days from Augusteen, which was ••igh the time Solomon went hence, and they mett Solomon about half way, and sent him for Augusteen with other Guides, bringing the Old Casseekey and his People with them. We observed that the Old Casseekey seem••d much dejected. We supposed The Spaniards had ta∣ken from him the Money and what other things he had carried with him; Or that he was vex'd he should be so deceived in taki••g us for Spaniards.

The Spaniards were extraordinary kind unto us, so that We had Occasion to rejoyce, and thank the LORD for this part of our Deliverance by this means. They were also a Terror unto the Indians; for they Searched their houses and took all from them that ever they could Finde, even to the stubb of a Nail: which aggravated them, and increased their Dis-affection to U••••ward; So that we dared not to stirr from a Span∣iard. The Spanish Captain made inquiry where We

were cast away, and what was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that we had in our Vessel? We gave an account so well as we could to make him onderstand us: which Account made him very desirous to go down thither; but looking over a paper often, which we supposed, was the Gouver∣nor's Order and Instructions to him, we understood they would not permitt him to prosecute that Design: beside we made him sensible of the danger we should be in, if he and his men should go and leaeve us amongst these people who were so bitterly in censed agaist us.

They inquired what became of the Boat that belon∣ged to Smith's-Vessel and ours, We told them that these Indians had taken Smith's Boat and sunk her some where in the Sound; but ours was at St. a Lucea. The Span∣iards made the Indians go and shew where they had Sunk Smith••s Boat and help our people to get her up: Which being done, shee was brought to the Town: the Spaniards were mightily pleased with her, and pro∣posed that they in their Cannooe, and our People in that Boat should go to Hoe-Bay, whereby they might gett all from the Indians which they had gotten from us: But We would not countenance the matter; We were for a speedy departing from amongst these peo∣ple as we could, since it had pleased GOD to open a way for our deliverance.

This Morning the Spanish Captain made the Indians Provide two Cannooes, which he caused to be lashed together at some distance with Sticks a Cross, and matted on the Topp: Which being done, with four Indians, Joseph Kirle, John Smith, Robert Barrow, Andrew Morray, Benjamin Allen, Nathaniell Randall, John Shears, Corn••lius Toker, Joseph Kirle's Boy John Hilliar; Four Negroes. viz. Jack; Cesar, Sarah, and

Q••enza were sent away for Augusteen: But not ou•• Morsell of Vi••nalls, except a very few Berries, had they with them; and not one Spaniard to guard them, but were put under the Goverment of those four Indians. About an hour after Joseph Kirle was gone, the Spanish Captain ordered Smith's boat to be made ready with two Spaniards, and Four of our Men to Row to the place where the drift of Smith••s Vessel was to look for Log-wood or Old Iron: When they retur∣ned, there was not any thing of value.

But our People said that as they were searching a∣bout, they found the Bones of Andrew Barnes: His•• S••ull and Jaw-Bone were broken; which occasioned us, to suspect that he was Knockt on the head by the Indi∣ans, after they had driven away Smith and his people.

We told the Spanish Captain that Joseph Kirles Negroe B••n. had been absent ever since the day after Solomon Gresson went hence, being gone with the Old Cassee∣key's Wife, but we knew not whither. The Captain made inquiry of the Indians whither he was gone. They said, For Hoe-Bay; then he ordered them to send for him, for he would not leave him behind. The Indians said, he would be here within a day or two. The Spaniards were continually Searching for what they could find of such things as the Indians had gotten from us or others: and when they could find no more, they would offer to buy with Tobacco what they could Perswade the Indians to bring to Light. A Leaf or half a leaf of Tobacco would purcha∣se a Yard of Linnen or woollen, or Silk from the In∣dians. Such Admirers of Tobacco are they, that they esteem it beyond any other thing. An Indian of the Town some time before the Spaniards came, having a

considerable quantity of Amber-greece, boasted that when he went for Augusteen with that, he could pur∣chase of the Spaniards a Looking-Glass, an Ax, a Knife or two, and three or four Mannocoes (which is about five or six pounds) of Tobaccoe. The Quan∣tity of Amber greece might be about Five pound Weight.