. On the other side of these mountains is
situate a great city called Merida, to which the town of Gibraltar is
subject. All merchandise is carried hence to the aforesaid city on
mules, and that but at one season of the year, by reason of the
excessive cold in those high mountains. On the said mules returns are
made in flour of meal, which comes from towards Peru, by the way of
Estaffe.

Thus far I thought good to make a short description of the lake of
Maracaibo, that my reader might the better comprehend what I shall say
concerning the actions of pirates in this place, as follows.

Lolonois arriving at the gulf of Venezuela, cast anchor with his whole
fleet out of sight of the Vigilia or Watch Isle; next day very early he
set sail thence with all his ships for the lake of Maracaibo, where they
cast anchor again; then they landed their men, with design to attack
first the fortress that commanded the bar, therefore called de la barra.
This fort consists only of several great baskets of earth placed on a
rising ground, planted with sixteen great guns, with several other heaps
of earth round about for covering their men: the pirates having landed a
league off this fort, advanced by degrees towards it; but the governor
having espied their landing, had placed an ambuscade to cut them off
behind, while he should attack them in front. This the pirates
discovered, and getting before, they defeated it so entirely, that not a
man could retreat to the castle: this done, Lolonois, with his
companions, advanced immediately to the fort, and after a fight of
almost three hours, with the usual desperation of this sort of people,
they became masters thereof, without any other arms than swords and
pistols: while they were fighting, those who were the routed ambuscade,
not being able to get into the castle, retired into Maracaibo in great
confusion and disorder, crying "The pirates will presently be here with
two thousand men and more." The city having formerly been taken by this
kind of people, and sacked to the uttermost, had still an idea of that
misery; so that upon these dismal news they endeavoured to escape
towards Gibraltar in their boats and canoes, carrying with them all the
goods and money they could. Being come to Gibraltar, they told how the
fortress was taken, and nothing had been saved, nor any persons escaped.

The castle thus taken by the pirates, they presently signified to the
ships their victory, that they should co