towrson's first voyage. 151 
In 1555, Captain William Towrson* set sail 
from the Isle of Wight with two good vessels, 
and proceeded to the African coast by the usual 
route. Near Rio d'Oro he took a caravel, but 
contented himself with purchasing the provisions 
of which he stood in need, and allowed it to 
depart. He passed by mistake the river Sestos, 
and found a shore covered with rocks and woods, 
and against which there broke so violent a surf, 
that it might be seen at the distance of four 
leagues. After sailing with great caution he 
found the river St Vincent, which was difficult 
indeed to enter ; but, when entered, very large, 
and as calm as the Thames. The people are de- 
scribed as " mighty bigge men,'* who go almost 
naked, except a covering round their loins made 
of bark woven like linen. The dress of both 
sexes is the same, and the females are known 
only by the breasts, " which, in the most part, 
" be very foule and long, hanging down lowe like 
the udder of a goate." One of their towns he 
describes as twenty small hovels, all covered 
" over with great leaves and baggage, and all the 
" sides open, and a scaffold under the house 
" where they worke many pretie things of the 
" barke of trees." The women anxiously strove 
to amuse them by a song, which " sounded full 
* Hakluyt, Vol. II. Part II. p. 23—54". 
