The Sickness Showed Not His
Infection, Wherewith So Many Were Strucken, Until We Were Departed
Thence; And Then Seized Our
People with extreme hot burning and
continual agues, whereof very few escaped with life, and yet those for
the most
Part not without great alteration and decay of their wits and
strength for a long time after. In some that died were plainly shown
the small spots which are often found upon those that be infected with
the plague. We were not above eighteen days in passage between the
sight of Santiago aforesaid, and the island of Dominica, being the
first island of the West Indies that we fell withal; the same being
inhabited with savage people, which go all naked, their skin coloured
with some painting of a reddish tawny, very personable and handsome
strong men, who do admit little conversation with the Spaniards; for,
as some of our people might understand them, they had a Spaniard or
twain prisoners with them. Neither do I think that there is any safety
for any of our nation, or any other, to be within the limits of their
commandment; albeit they used us very kindly for those few hours of
time which we spent with them, helping our folks to fill and carry on
their bare shoulders fresh water from the river to our ships' boats,
and fetching from their houses great store of tobacco, as also a kind
of bread which they fed on, called cassavi, very white and savoury,
made of the roots of cassavi.
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