a little indifferent wheat. This isle produces many
venomous insects, as vipers, spiders, and others. These last are so
pernicious, that a man bitten by them dies mad; and the manner of
recovering such is to tie them very fast both hands and feet, and so to
leave them twenty-four hours, without eating or drinking anything.
Captain Morgan, as was said, having cast anchor before this island,
bought of the inhabitants sheep, lambs, and wood, for all his fleet.
After two days, he sailed again in the night, to the intent they might
not see what course he steered.

Next day they arrived at the sea of Maracaibo, taking great care not to
be seen from Vigilia, for which reason they anchored out of sight of it.
Night being come, they set sail again towards the land, and next
morning, by break of day, were got directly over against the bar of the
said lake. The Spaniards had built another fort since the action of
Lolonois, whence they now fired continually against the pirates, while
they put their men into boats to land. The dispute continued very hot,
being managed with great courage from morning till dark night. This
being come, Captain Morgan, in the obscurity thereof, drew nigh the
fort, which having examined, he found nobody in it, the Spaniards having
deserted it not long before. They left behind them a match lighted near
a train of powder, to have blown up the pirates and the whole fortress
as soon as they were in it. This design had taken effect, had not the
pirates discovered it in a quarter of an hour; but Captain Morgan
snatching away the match, saved both his own and his companions' lives.
They found here much powder, whereof he provided his fleet, and then
demolished part of the walls, nailing sixteen pieces of ordnance, from
twelve to twenty-four pounders. Here they also found many muskets and
other military provisions.

Next day they commanded the ships to enter the bar, among which they
divided the powder, muskets, and other things found in the fort: then
they embarked again to continue their course towards Maracaibo; but the
waters being very low, they could not pass a certain bank at the entry
of the lake: hereupon they were compelled to go into canoes and small
boats, with which they arrived next day before Maracaibo, having no
other defence than some small pieces which they could carry in the said
boats. Being landed, they ran immediately to the fort De la Barra, which
they found as the precedent, without any