HISTOBICAL SKETCH OF THE BEBMUDAS. 65 
were described as the most remote of all the islands 
yet found in the world. From this date many years 
seemed to have elapsed without anything being re- 
corded about them, except an occasional wreck, or 
stories of the old buccaneers, who were said to hold 
court here after some of their successful raids on the 
Spanish Main, and tradition even now informs us 
of untold wealth being buried about amongst the 
islands. Perhaps the earliest authentic account is 
that given by one of the crew of the Sea Adventure , a 
vessel that was wrecked off the coast in 1609. It 
appears this vessel had been fitted out in England to 
convey the newly appointed Governor, Sir Thomas 
Gates, together with Admiral Sir George Somers 
and other officials, to the recently formed colony of 
Yirginia ; meeting with a dreadful storm, and suffer- 
ing great privations, their vessel was run on shore, 
and became a complete wreck. The islands were 
found to be uninhabited, although there were evident 
traces of earlier visitors, for hogs were found to be 
very numerous, having probably been set adrift by 
them. Fish and turtle were also abundant ; and, 
finding the climate so pleasant and the land so pro- 
ductive, a year passed before any attempt was made 
to get away ; by which time they had managed to 
build a small vessel, and in May 1610 they set sail 
for their original destination. 
On reaching Yirginia, they found the colony so 
badly off for the necessaries of life that Sir George 
