Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/429

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with a ship-boat without resistance, which we found to be a good prize, and she yeelded vnto vs good store of wine: which prize our General committed to the custodie of Master Doughtie, and reteining the Pilot, sent the rest away with his Pinnesse, giuing them a Butte of wine and some victuals, and their wearing clothes, and so they departed.

The same night wee came with the Island called by the Portugals, Ilha del fogo, that is, the burning Island: in the Northside whereof is a consuming fire, the matter is sayde to be of Sulphure, but notwithstanding it is like to be a commodious Island, because the Portugals haue built, and doe inhabite there.

Vpon the South side thereof lyeth a most pleasant and sweete Island, the trees whereof are alwayes greene and faire to looke vpon, in respect whereof they call it Ilha Braua, that is, the braue Island. From the banks thereof into the sea doe run in many places reasonable streames of fresh water easie to be come by, but there was no conuenient roade for our ships: for such was the depth, that no ground could be had for anchoring, and it is reported, that ground was neuer found in that place, so that the tops of Fogo burne not so high in the ayre, but the rootes of Braua are quenched as low in the sea.

Being departed from these Islands, we drew towards the line, where wee were becalmed the space of 3. weekes, but yet subiect to diuers great stormes, terrible lightnings and much thunder: but with this miserie we had the commoditie of great store of fish, as Dolphins, Bonitos, and flying fishes, whereof some fell into our shippes, wherehence they could not raise againe for want of moisture, for when their wings are drie, they cannot flie.

From the first day of our departure from the Islands of Cape Verde, wee sayled 54. dayes without sight of land, and the first land that we fell with was the coast of Brasil, which we saw the fifth of April in y^e height of 33. degrees towardes the pole Antarctike, and being discouered at sea by the inhabitants of the countrey, they made vpon the coast great fires for a sacrifice (as we learned to the deuils, about which they vse coniurations, making heapes of sande and other ceremonies, that when any ship shall goe about to stay vpon their coast, not onely sands may be gathered together in shoalds in euery place, but also that stormes and tempests may arise, to the casting away of