306 THE SEA. 



his own hands." On nearing the Brazilian coast, the inhabitants "'made great fires for a 

 sacrifice to the devils, about which they use conjurations (making heaps of sand and other 

 ceremonies), that when any ships shall go about to stay upon their coast, not only sands 

 may be gathered together in shoals in every place, but also that storms and tempests may 

 arise, to the casting away of ships and men." Near the Plata they slaughtered large 

 numbers of seals, thinking them " good and acceptable meat both as food for the present, 

 and as a supply of provisions for the future." Further south, they found stages constructed 

 on the rocks by the natives for drying the flesh of ostriches ; their thighs were as large 

 as "reasonable legs of mutton." At a spot which Drake named Seal Bay, they 

 remained over a fortnight. Here they "made new provisions of seals, whereof they slew 

 to the number of from 200 to 300 in the space of an hour." Some little traffic ensued 

 with the natives, all of whom were highly painted, some of them having the whole of 

 one side, from crown to heel, painted black, and the other white. " They fed on seals 

 and other flesh, which they ate nearly raw, casting pieces of four or six pounds' weight 

 into the fire, till it was a little scorched, and then tearing it in pieces with their teeth like 

 lions." At the sound of Drake's band of trumpeters they showed great delight, dancing 

 on the beach with the sailors. They were described as of large stature. " One of these 

 giants," said the chaplain of the expedition, " standing with our men when they were 

 taking their morning draughts, showed himself so familiar that he also would do as they 

 did; and taking a glass in his hand (being strong canary wine), it came no sooner to his 

 lips, than it took him by the nose, and so suddenly entered his head, that he was so drunk, 

 or at least so overcome, that he fell right down, not able to stand ; yet he held the 

 glass fast in his hand, without spilling any of the wine ; and when he came to himself, 

 he tried again, and tasting, by degrees got to the bottom. From which time he took 

 such a liking to the wine, that having learnt the name, he would every morning come 

 down from the mountains with a mighty cry of ' Wine ! wine ! wine ! ' continuing the 

 same until he arrived at the tent."* 



After some trouble caused by the separation of the vessels, the whole fleet arrived 

 safely at the " good harborough called by Magellan Port Julian," where nearly the first 

 sight they met was a gibbet, on which the Portuguese navigator had executed several 

 mutinous members of his company, some of the bones of whom yet remained. Drake 

 himself was to have trouble here. At the outset the natives appeared friendly, and a 

 trial of skill in shooting arrows resulted in an English gunner exceeding their efforts, 

 at which they appeared pleased by the skill shown. A little while after another Indian 

 came, " but of a sourer sort," and one Winter, prepared for another display of archery, 

 unfortunately broke the bow-string when he drew it to its full length. This dis- 

 abused the natives, to some extent, of the superior skill of the English, and an attack was 

 made, apparently incited by the Indian just mentioned. Poor Winter received two wounds, 

 and the gunner coming to the rescue with his gun missed fire, and was immediately shot 

 u through the breast and out at back, so that he fell down stark dead." Drake assembled 

 nis men, ordering them to cover themselves with their targets, and march on the assailants, 



* Narrative of Chaplain Fletcher, quoted by Burney. 



