224 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



a Sunday, feemed to us as if filled with all the variety 

 of Seville fair. Thus the leaft objeft became mag- 

 nified, when we defcended for two or three days 

 from our exile, which, in fome places, lafted fifty days 

 fucceflively ; and it muft be owned, that there were 

 particular occafions when our fufferings were fuch, that 

 nothing could have fupported us under them, and ani- 

 mated us to perfevere, but that honour and fidelity 

 which jointly confpired to induce both companies^ 

 whatever fhould be the confequence, not fo leave im- 

 perfect a work fo long defired by all civilized nations, 

 and fo particularly countenanced by the two power- 

 ful monarchs our fovereigns. 



It may not be amifs here to inform the reader of 

 the difi^erent opinions conceived by the neighbouring 

 inhabitants, with regard to onr enterprize. Some ad- 

 mired our refolution, others could not tell what con- 

 ftrudlion to put upon our perfeverance and even 

 thofe of the befl parts and education among them 

 were utterly at a lofs what to think. They made it 

 their bufinefs to examine the Indians concerning the 

 life we led, but the anfwers they received only tend- 

 ed to increafe their doubts and aftonifliment* They 

 faw that thofe people, though naturally hardy, ro- 

 buft, and invited to fatigues, could not be prevailed 

 upon, notwithftanding the encouragement of double 

 pay, to continue any time with us. The ferenity in 

 which we lived on thofe dreaded places was not 

 unknown to them 5 and they faw with what tranquil- 

 lity and coriftancy we palfed from one fcene of Ibli- 

 rude and labour to another. This to them appeared 

 fo ftrange, that they were at a lofs what to attribute 

 it to. Some confidered us as little better than luna- 

 tics; others more fagacioufly imputed the whole to 

 covetoufnefs, and that we Vv'ere certainly endeavour- 

 ing to difcover fome rich minerals by particular me- 

 thods of our own invention-, others again fufpefted 

 that we deak in magic j but all were involved in a 



labyrinth 



