The Next Morning, The Storm Being Broken Up, We Went Forward In Our
Attempt, And Sailed Into A Mighty Great
River, directly into the
body of the land, and in brief found it to be no firm land, but
huge,
Waste, and desert isles with mighty sounds and inlets passing
between sea and sea. Whereupon we returned towards our ships, and
landing to stop a flood, we found the burial of these miscreants; we
found of their fish in bags, plaices, and caplin dried, of which we
took only one bag and departed. The 9th of this month we came to
our ships, where we found the people desirous in their fashion of
friendship and barter: our mariners complained heavily against the
people, and said that my lenity and friendly using of them gave them
stomach to mischief, for "they have stolen an anchor from us. They
have cut our cable very dangerously, they have cut our boats from
our stern, and now, since your departure, with slings they spare us
not with stones of half a pound weight. And will you still endure
these injuries? It is a shame to bear them." I desired them to be
content, and said I doubted not but all should be well. The 10th of
this month I went to the shore, the people following me in their
canoes; I tolled them on shore, and used them with much courtesy,
and then departed aboard, they following me and my company. I gave
some of them bracelets, and caused seven or eight of them to come
aboard, which they did willingly; and some of them went into the top
of our ship, and thus courteously using them I let them depart. The
sun was no sooner down but they began to practise their devilish
nature, and with slings threw stones very fiercely into the
Moonlight and struck one of her men, the boatswain, that he
overthrew withal: whereat being moved, I changed my courtesy and
grew to hatred; myself in my own boat well manned with shot, and the
barques boat likewise pursued them, and gave them divers shot, but
to small purpose, by reason of their swift rowing; so small content
we returned.
The 11th of this month there came five of them to make a new truce;
the master of the Admiral came to me to show me of their coming, and
desired to have them taken and kept as prisoners until we had his
anchor again; but when he saw that the chief ring-leader and master
of mischief was one of the five, then was vehement to execute his
purpose, so it was determined to take him; he came crying "Yliaout,"
and striking his breast offered a pair of gloves to sell; the master
offered him a knife for them: so two of them came to us; the one
was not touched, but the other was soon captive among us; then we
pointed to him and his fellows for our anchor, which being had we
made signs that he should he set at liberty within one hour that he
came aboard; the wind came fair, whereupon we weighed and set sail,
and so brought the fellow with us.
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