DRAKE'S CIRCUMNAVIGATION a.d. 



1578. 

 the wind often against lis, so that some of the fleete 

 recovering a Cape or point of land, others should be 

 forced to turne backe againe, and to come to an anchor [HI. 73+.] 

 where they could. 



In this streight there be many faire harbors, with store 

 of fresh water, but yet they lacke their best commoditie : 

 for the water is there of such depth, that no man shal 

 find ground to anchor in, except it bee in some narow 

 river or corner, or betweene some rocks, so that if any 

 extreme blasts or contrary winds do come (whereunto 

 the place is much subject) it carieth with it no small 

 danger. 



The land on both sides is very huge & mountainous, 

 the lower mountains whereof, although they be mon- 

 strous and wonderfull to looke upon for their height, yet 

 there are others which in height exceede them in a 

 strange maner, reaching themselves above their fellowes 

 so high, that betweene them did appeare three regions 

 of cloudes. 



These mountaines are covered with snow : at both 

 the Southerly and Easterly partes of the streight there 

 are Islands, among which the sea hath his indraught 

 into the streights, even as it hath in the maine entrance 

 of the freat. 



This streight is extreme cold, with frost and snow 

 continually ; the trees seeme to stoope with the burden 

 of the weather, and yet are greene continually, and many 

 good and sweete herbes doe very plentifully grow and 

 increase u^ider them. 



The bredth of the streight is in some place a league, The bredth of 

 in some other places 2. leagues, and three leagues, and the streights of 

 in some other 4. leagues, but the narowest place hath ' ^^^ ^^' 

 a league over. 



The 24. of August we arrived at an Island in the 

 streights, where we found great store of foule which Abundance of 

 could not flie, of the bignesse of geese, whereof we -^^ . ^^ ^^^ 

 killed in lesse then one day 3000. and victualled our ^ ^ ^^ ' 

 selves throughly therewith. 



Ill 



