50 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



own boats, and carried with them fifteen crossbows 

 and ten muskets. 



After halting a little while, they set out, the chief 

 leading the way; and, passing by a thick wood, at 

 a signal from the chief a great body of Indians in 

 ambush rushed out, poured upon them a shower of 

 arrows, which at the first discharge Wounded fifteen, 

 and then fell upon them with their lances ; but the 

 swords, crossbows, and firearms of the Spaniards 

 struck them with such terror that they fled precipi- 

 tately, leaving seventeen of their number slain. 



The Spaniards returned to their ships, and con- 

 tinued toward the west, always keeping in sight of 

 land. In fifteen days they discovered a large town, 

 with an inlet which seemed to be a river. They 

 went ashore for water, and were about returning, 

 when some fifty Indians came toward them, dressed 

 in good mantas of cotton, and invited them to their 

 town. After some hesitation, the Spaniards went 

 with them, and arrived at some large stone houses 

 like those they had seen at Cape Cotoche, on the 

 walls of which were figures of serpents and other 

 idols. These were their temples, and about one of 

 the altars were drops of fresh blood, which they af- 

 terward learned was the blood of Indians, sacrificed 

 for the destruction of the strangers. 



Hostile preparations of a formidable character 

 were soon apparent, and the Spaniards, fearing to 

 encounter such a multitude, retired to the shore, and 

 embarked with their water-casks. This place was 



