upon this coast. 



AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1539. 



we were some sixe leagues distant, to take in 12 buttes 

 of water, which wee had drunke and spent, because he 

 knew not whither we should from thencefoorth finde any 

 water, or no ; and though we should finde water, it was 

 doubtfull whither we should be able to take it by reason 

 Great tides of the great tide that goeth upon that coast. We drewe 

 neere to that place on Munday at night, when as we 

 sawe certaine fires of the Indians. And on Tuesday 

 morning our Generall commaunded that the Trinitie 

 should come as neere our ship & to the shore as it could, 

 that if we had neede, they might helpe us with their 

 great ordinance : and having made 3 or 4 bourds to draw 

 neere the shore, there came 4 or 5 Indians to the sea- 

 side ; who stood and beheld while we put out our boat 

 and anker, marking also how our bwoy floated upon 

 the water ; and when our boat returned to the ship, two 

 of them leapt into the sea, and swamme unto the bwoy, 

 and beheld it a great while ; then they tooke a cane of 

 an arrow, and tyed to the sayd bwoy a very faire and 

 shining sea-oyster of pearles, and then returned to the 

 shore, neere to the watering place. 



Chap. 10. 



They give unto the Indians many trifles which stand upon 

 the shore to see them, and seeke to parley with them 

 by their interpreter, which was a Chichimeco, who 

 could not understand their language. They go to 

 take fresh water. Francis Preciado spendeth the time 

 with them with many signes, and trucking and being 

 afeard of their great multitude, retireth himselfe wisely 

 with his companions, returning with safety to the 

 ships. 



'Hen the Captaine and we beheld this, we judged 



these Indians to be peaceable people ; whereupon 



the Captaine tooke the boat with 4 or 5 mariners carrying 



[III. 412.] with him certain beades to truck, and went to speake 



with them. In the meane while he commanded the 



Indian interpreter our Chichimeco, to be called out of 



244 



w 



