STRANDED UPON A ROCKY SHOAL. 



285 



sights which they have described in somewhat exaggerated 

 terms : — " tall trees without branches except a tuft at the very 

 top, in which swarms of fiery worms, flying in the air, made a 

 show as if every twig had been a burning candle ; bats bigger 

 than large hens,— a very ugly poultry ; cray-fish, or land-crabs, 

 one of which was enough for four men, and which dug huge 

 caves under the roots of trees, or, for want of better refuge, 

 would climb trees and hide in the forks of the branches." This 

 spot was appropriately named Crab Island. 



On the 9th of January, 1580, the ship ran upon a rocky shoal 

 and stuck fast. The crew were first summoned to prayers, and 

 then ordered to lighten the ship. Three tons of cloves were 

 thrown over, eight guns, and a quantity of meal and pulse. One 

 authority says distinctly that no gold or silver was thrown into 

 the water, though it was the heaviest part of the cargo ; another 

 authority asserts the contrary in the following passage : — 

 u Conceiving that the best way to lighten the ship was to ease 

 their consciences, they humbled themselves by fasting, after- 

 wards dining on Christ in the sacrament, expecting no other 

 than to sup with him in heaven. Then they cast out of their ship 

 six great pieces of ordnance, threw overboard as much wealth 

 as would break the heart of a miser to think of it, with much 

 sugar and packs of spices, making a caudle of the sea round 

 about." The ship was at last freed, and started again on her 

 way. Her adventures from this point offer no very salient 

 features : she stopped at Java, the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 Sierra Leone. In the latter place Drake saw troops of ele- 

 phants, and oysters fastened on to the twigs of trees and hang- 

 ing down into the water in strings. 



Drake arrived at Plymouth after a voyage of two years and 

 ten months. Like Magellan, he found he had lost a day in 

 his reckoning. He immediately repaired to court, where he was 

 graciously received, his treasure, however, being placed in se- 

 questration, to answer such demands as might be made upon it. 



