Spanish Rock. 



Figure 244. — Ancienl inscription on "Spanish Rock," after Lefroy, 1879. It 

 has been attributed by most writers to Ferdinando Camelo, a native of Por- 

 tngal, who received an abortive cbartrr for tbe settlement of Bermuda from 

 the King of Spain, about 1527. But there is no evidence that he ever visited 

 the islands. If the monogram ever stood for his name the C has now dis- 

 appeared by weathering. Quite possibly this has happened. At present, 

 the monogram more resembles TK or FK. It is more probable that it is the 

 only known record of the survivors of some disastrous shipwreck in 1543, 

 who may have lived for some time on these islands, and perhaps died here. 

 Possibly only a single individual survived, and be may have lived alone for 

 years, like "Robinson Crusoe." The presence of a cross would rather 

 exclude the theory that it was left by pirates or buccaneers. 



This is probably one of the mementoes of the supposed visits of the Spanish 

 before the English settlement, mentioned by Gov. Butler, in 1619: " Witnesse 

 eertaine crosses Left erected upon rocks and promontories." He also refers to 

 old Swinish coins that had been found here by the early settlers. 



The inscription, which was originally deeply cut in the limestone ledge, is 

 gradually becoming !■ ^s distinct, due partly to weathering and partly to vandal- 

 ism of \i~itoi- A casl of it is preserved in the Public Library, at Hamilton. 



