AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1539- 



divers pieces of earthen pots as finely made as those in 



Spaine. Here by commandement of the Captaine a Crosse 

 was erected upon an hill, and it was set up by Francis 

 Preciado. In this place we saw the Countrey full of 

 fresh and greene grasse, howbeit differing from that of 

 New Spaine, and up within the Countrey wee saw many 

 great and very greene mountaines. This Countrey 

 seemed very goodly and delightsome to all of us, in 

 regard of the greennesse and beautie thereof, and we 

 judged it to be very populous within the land. From 

 this haven we departed and kept our way toward the 

 Northwest with good weather, and began to finde hard 

 by the sea-shore exceeding high mountaines spotted with 

 white, and in them we saw many foules which had 

 their nestes in certaine holes of those rocks, and sailed 

 lo. leagues until night, all which night we were be- 

 calmed. The next day we followed our course Northwest 

 with good weather : and from that day forward we began 

 to see on the Westerne shore (whereon the foresaid 

 haven of S. Cruz standeth) certaine Islands or high 

 lands, whereat we rejoyced not a little. And so sayling 

 Jn Island. forward we met with an Island about two leagues in 

 bignesse, and on the East shore having still the maine 

 land and Islands in sight, we sailed 15. leagues until the 

 evening, alwayes finding hard by the sea-coast exceeding 

 high mountaines bare of trees, the land appearing still 

 more plainely unto us on the Westerne shore. Where- 

 Some take the upon wee began to be of divers opinions, some thinking 

 land of Call- ^^^^ ^j^-g ^oast of Santa Cruz was a firme land, and 

 nothinz but *^^^ ^^ joyned with the continent of Nueva Espanna, 

 Islands. Others thought the contrary, and that they were nothing 



else but Islands, which were to the Westward. And 

 in this sort we proceeded forward, having the land on 

 both sides of us, so farre, that we all began to wonder 

 at it. This day we sailed some 15. leagues, and called 

 this Cape Capo de las Plaias. 



