Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/117

 of our ship, and set the bushes on fire, so that we were in a very stinking smoke: but as soone as they came within our shot, we shot at them, and striking one of them in the thigh they all presently fled, so that we neuer heard nor saw more of them. Hereby we iudged that these Canibals had slaine our 9 men. When we considered what they were that thus were slaine, and found that they were the principall men that would haue murthered our Captaine and Master, with the rest of their friends, we saw the iust iudgement of God, and made supplication to his diuine Maiesty to be mercifull vnto vs.

While we were in this harborough, our Captaine and Master went with the boat to discouer how farre this riuer did run, that if neede should enforce vs to leaue our ship, we might know how farre we might go by water. So they found, that farther than 20 miles they could not go with the boat. At their returne they sente the boate to the Isle of Penguins; whereby wee vnderstood that the Penguins dryed to our hearts content and that the multitude of them was infinite. This Penguin hath the shape of a bird, but hath no wings, only two stumps in the place of wings, by which he swimmeth vnder water with as great swiftnes as any fish. They liue vpon smelts, whereof there is great abundance vpon this coast; in eating they be neither fish nor flesh: they lay great eggs, and the bird is of a reasonable bignes, very neere twise so big as a ducke. All the time that wee were in this place, we fared passing well with egs, Penguins, yong Seales, young Gulles, besides other birds, such as I know not: of all which we had great abundance.

In this place we found an herbe called Scuruygrasse, which wee fried with egs, vsing traine oyle in stead of butter. This herbe did so purge the blood, that it tooke away all kind of swellings, of which many died, and restored vs to perfect health of body, so that we were in as good case as when we came first out of England.

We stayed in this harbour vntil the 22 of December, in which time we had dried 20000 Penguins: and the Captaine, the Master, and myselfe had made some salt, by laying salt water upon the rocks in holes, which in 6 daies would be kerned.

Thus God did feed vs euen as it were with Manna from heauen.

The 22 of December we departed with our ship for the Isle, where with great dificulty, by the skilful industry of our Master