LOPEZ VAZ AD. 



1572-87. 

 they could doe no great hurt; for that with a small 

 pinnesse and two falcons a few may overcome 100 of 

 them. At this place foureteene men mistrusting nothing, 

 rowed to land, to take in fresh water, whome on the 

 sudden certaine Indians in foure Canoas set upon, tooke 

 the ships boat, and slewe all the men therein : where- 

 fore a man cannot goe on shore too strong, nor yet 

 be too wary in a strange land. Hereupon the Spaniards 

 went on shore in their pinnesse, and burnt the towne, Amvnebumt, 

 and in this towne they found the small graines of gold 

 before mentioned. They were discovering of these 

 Islands from one to another about foureteene moneths, 

 at the ende of which time (because that upon the coast 

 where they were, the wind continuing still in one place, 

 might bee an occasion of longer tarying) they consulted 

 which way to returne. Southward they durst not goe 

 for feare of great tempests which are that way usuall : 

 wherefore sayling to the North of the line, they fell with 

 the coast of Nueva Espanna ; on which coast they met 

 with such terrible stormes, that they were forced to 

 cut their maine masts over-bourd, and to lye nine 

 moneths beating it up and downe in the sea, before 

 they could get into any harborow of the Christians. In 

 which time by reason of evill governement, and for lacke 

 of victuals and fresh water, most of the men in their 

 Admirall dyed ; for five whole dayes together they had 

 neither water nor meatei.but in the other ships they 

 behaved themselves so well, that the greater part of them 

 came safe unto the land. He that passeth the Streights 

 of Magellan, or saileth from the coast of Chili directly 

 for the Malucos must needs runne in sight of some of 

 these Islands before spoken of. At which Islands lying so Abu7idance of 

 conveniently in the way to the Malucos you may furnish ^'^^^ I'tctuals 

 your selfe with plenty of victuals, as hogges, hennes, %^^Iq„iq^ 

 excellent almonds, potatos, sugar-canes, with divers other 

 sortes fit for the sustenance of man in great abundance. 

 Also among these Islands you shall have some quantity 

 of gold, which the Indians will give you in truck for 

 XI 289 T 



