ships and men, whereof (as it is reported) there haue bene diuers experiements.
The seuenth day in a mightie great storme both of lightning rayne and thunder, wee lost the Canter which we called the Christopher: but the eleuenth day after, by our Generals great care in dispersing his ships, we found her againe, and the place where we met, our General called the Cape of Ioy, where euery ship tooke in some water.
The Cape of Ioy. Heere wee found a good temperature and sweete ayre, a very faire and pleasant countrey with an exceeding fruitfull soyle, where were great store of large and mightie Deere, but we came not to the sight of any people: but traueiling further into the countrey, we perceiued the footing of people in the clay-ground shewing that they were men of great stature. Being returned to our ships, we wayed anchor, and ranne somewhat further, and harboured our selues betweene a rocke and the maine where by meanes of the rocke that brake the force of the sea, we rid very safe, and vpon this rocke we killed for our prouision certaine sea-wolues, commonly called with vs Seales.
Their entrance into the riuer of Plate.
Abundance of Seales.
From hence we went our course to 36. degrees,
and entred the great riuer of Plate, and ranne into 54.
and 55. fadomes and a halfe of fresh water, where wee
filled our water by the ships side: but our Generall
finding here no good harborough, as he thought he should, bare
out againe to sea the 27. of April, and in bearing out we lost sight
of our Flieboate wherein master Doughtie was, but we sayling
along, found a fayre and reasonable good Bay wherein were
many, and the same profitable Islands, one whereof
had so many Seales, as would at the least haue laden
all our Shippes, and the rest of the Islands are as it were laden
with foules which is wonderfull to see, and they of diuers sortes.
It is a place very plentifull of victuals, and hath in it no want of fresh water.
Our General after certaine dayes of his abode in this place, being on shore in an Island, the people of the countrey shewed themselues unto him, leaping and dauncing, and entred into traffique with him, but they would not receiue any thing at any mans hands, but the same must bee cast vpon the ground. They are of cleane, comely, and strong bodies, swift on foote, and seeme to be very actiue.
May. The eighteenth day of May our Generall thought
