102 A. E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands; Geology. 
This inscription consists of a monogram, a rude cross, and the date, 
1543. The date is, or was a few years ago, fairly distinct. It 
was originally cut, perhaps .50 to .75 of an inch deep,—possibly an 
‘nch. That it has remained visible so long may be due to the fact 
that the corrosion may have affected the incised lines quite as much 
as the surrounding surfaces. Still, it is remarkable that it should 
have been preserved at all. It is now much less distinct than 40 
years ago, but this is largely due to vandalism of visitors. 
As to the authenticity of the date, we have no positive proof. 
Local tradition makes it appear to have been known to the early 
settlers. 
It is, perhaps, one of the mementoes of the supposed visits of the 
Spanish before the English settlement, mentioned by Gov. Butler, in 
1619: “ Witnesse certaine crosses left erected upon rocks and pro- 
montories.” He also refers to old Spanish coins that had been found 
here by the early settlers. 
The presence of numerous wild hogs on the islands in 1593, as 
narrated by Henry May, and in 1611, as described by the early 
settlers, proves that Spanish or Portuguese vessels had previously 
visited the islands and introduced them there. 
However, I have not found any positive reference to the inscrip- 
tion on Spanish Rock before 1840, but the literature of the islands, 
before that time, and after 1640, is singularly bare of all references 
to the natural history of the islands. Those 200 years were the 
“dark ages” of Bermuda, in this respect at least. 
I am not certain as to who, among modern writers, first mentioned 
it, but all agree that it had been known for a very long time, and 
that, from the first, it appeared ancient. 
it has been attributed by most writers to Ferdinando Camelo, a 
native of Portugal, who received an abortive charter for the settle- 
ment of Bermuda from the King of Spain, about 1527. But there 
is no evidence that he personally ever visited the islands. If the 
monogram ever stood for his name the C has now disappeared by 
weathering. Quite possibly this has happened. At present, the 
monogram more resembles TK or FK or TR. It is more probable 
that it is the only known record of the survivors of some disastrous 
shipwreck in 1543, who may have lived for some time on these 
islands, and perhaps died here. The presence of a cross would 
rather exclude the theory that it was left by pirates or buccaneers. 
If the date be genuine, it indicates a loss of less than an inch in 
depth from the surface in 362 years. 
