LAST VOYAGE OF THOMAS CANDISH ad. 



1593- 



gunner only excepted. Being thus at sea, when we 



came to cape Frio, the winde was contrary ; so that Cabo Frio 30 



7 weekes we were grievously vexed with crosse windes, ^^^S^^^ ^^^^ off 



o ^ • u c vc the lie of 



(X our water consuming, our hope or hre was very p^ / 



small. Some desired to go to Baya, & to submit 

 themselves to the Portugales, rather then to die for 

 thirst : but the captaine with faire perswasions altered 

 their purpose of yeelding to the Portugales. In this [III. 852.] 

 distresse it pleased God to send us raine in such plenty, 

 as that we were wel watered, & in good comfort to 

 returne. But after we came neere unto the sun, our 

 dried Penguins began to corrupt, and there bred in 

 them a most lothsome & ugly worme of an inch long. ^ niost strange 

 This worme did so mightily increase, and devoure our ^/l^J^^^°^^ 

 victuals, that there was in reason no hope how we Iredofln-^ 

 should avoide famine, but be devoured of these wicked salted Pen- 

 creatures : there was nothing that they did not devour, ^«^"»^. 

 only yron excepted : our clothes, boots, shooes, hats, 

 shirts, stockings : and for the ship they did so eat the 

 timbers, as that we greatly feared they would undoe 

 us, by gnawing through the ships side. Great was the 

 care and diligence of our captaine, master, and company 

 to consume these vermine, but the more we laboured 

 to kill them, the more they increased ; so that at the 

 last we could not sleepe for them, but they would eate 

 our flesh, and bite like Mosquitos. In this wofull case, 

 after we had passed the Equinoctiall toward the North, 

 our men began to fall sick of such a monstrous disease, 

 as I thinke the like was never heard of: for in their 

 ankles it began to swell ; from thence in two dales it 

 would be in their breasts, so that they could not draw 

 their breath, and then fell into their cods ; and their 

 cods and yardes did swell most grievously, and most 

 dreadfully to behold, so that they could neither stand, 

 lie, nor goe. Whereupon our men grew mad with 

 griefe. Our captain with extreme anguish of his 

 soule, was in such wofull case, that he desired only a 

 speedie end, and though he were scarce able to speake 



415 



