FRANCIS DE ULLOA a.d. 



1539- 

 harquebuziers, and eight or nine targets, and the most 

 part of us carryed very good slings, and every one 

 eighteene river stones, which weapon the Captaine in- 

 vented, because the Indians at the first had handled us 

 very shrewdly with the multitude of stones which they 

 flang at us : we had nothing to defende us saving our 

 targets, and to seeke to winne the fortes from whence 

 they indamaged us ; he therefore thought with these 

 slings, that we might offend them, and we likewise 

 thought well of his opinion, for making tryall of them, 

 we threw very well with them, and much farther than we 

 thought we could have done : for the slings being made 

 of hempe, we flung very farre with them. Nowe being 

 come to the watering place the sayd Wednesday by 

 breake of day we tooke the fort of the fountaine, which 

 were certaine cragges or rockes hanging over the same, 

 betweene which there was an opening or deepe valley 

 through which this water runneth, which is no great 

 quantitie, but a little brooke not past a fadome broad. 

 So standing all in order, other foure or Rve Indians came 

 thither, who as soone as they sawe us to be come on 

 shore, and to have gotten the toppe of the watering place, [HI. 413.] 

 they retired unto a small hill on the other side, for the 

 valley was betweene them and us : neither stayed they 

 long before they beganne to assemble themselves as they 

 had done the day before by 10 and 10, and 15 and 15, 

 ranging themselves on this high hill, where they made 

 signes unto us. And Francis Preciado craved license of 

 the Generall to parley with these Indians, and to give 

 them some trifles ; wherewith he was contented, charging 

 him not to come too neere them, nor to goe into any 

 place where they might hurt him. Whereupon Francis 

 went unto a plaine place, under the hill where the Indians 

 stood, and to put them out of feare he layd downe his 

 sword and target, having onely a dagger hanging downe 

 at his girdle, and in a skarfe which he carried at his necke, 

 certaine beades to exchange with them, combs, fishing- 

 hooks and comfits. And he began to goe up the hill, and 



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