RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1564. 



sprang out of a rocke at the foote of this mountaine, 



I continued my course toward the West, wherein the 



windes favoured me so well, that 15 dayes after our 



ships arrived safe and sound at the Antilles : and 



going on land at the Isle of Marti nino, one of the ^^^ ^/^^ ^f 



first of them, the next day we arrived at Dominica, ^^^{^^!^°- 



^ 1 ^' r -i r Domi7iica an 



twelve leagues distant trom the rormer. island. 



Dominica is one of the fayrest Islands of the West, 

 full of hilles, and of very good smell. Whose 

 singularities desiring to know as we passed, and 

 seeking also to refresh our selves with fresh water, I 

 made the Mariners cast anker, after wee had sayled 

 about halfe along the coast thereof. As soone as we 

 had cast anker, two Indians (inhabitants of that place) 

 sayled toward us in two Canoas full of a fruite of 

 great excellencie which they call Ananas. As they Ananas a 

 approched unto our Barke, there was one of them fr^^f^ofg^^^i 

 which being in some misdoubt of us, went backe ^'^^^ ^^'^^^' 

 againe on land, and fled his way with as much speede 

 as he could possibly. Which our men perceived and [III. 320.] 

 entred with diligence into the other Canoa, wherein 

 they caught the poore Indian, & brought him unto 

 me. But the poore fellow became so astonied in be- 

 holding us, that he knew not which way to behave 

 himselfe, because that (as afterward I understood) he 

 feared that he was fallen into the Spaniards hands, 

 of whom he had bene taken once before, and which, 

 as he shewed us, had cut of his stones. At length 

 this poore Indian was secure of us, and discoursed 

 unto us of many things, wherof we received very 

 small pleasure, because we understood not his minde 

 but by his signes. Then he desired me to give him leave 

 to depart, and promised me that he would bring me a 

 thousand presents, whereunto I agreed on condition that 

 he would have patience untill the next day, when I pur- 

 posed to goe on land, where I suffered him to depart 

 after I had given him a shirte, and certaine small trifles, 

 wherewith he departed very well contented from us. 



