Sir Francis Drake sayled on the backside of America to 43. degrees of Northerly latitude 38. Degrees. men being grieuously pinched with the same, complained of the extremitie thereof, and the further we went, the more the colde increased vpon us. Whereupon we thought it best for that time to seeke the land, and did so, finding it not mountainous, but low plaine land, till wee came within 38. degrees towards the line. In which height it pleased God to send vs into a faire and good Baye, with a good winde to enter the same.[1]
A description of the people and Countrey of Noua Albion. In this Baye wee anchored, and the people of the Countrey hauing their houses close by the waters side, shewed themselues vnto vs, and sent a present to our Generall.
When they came vnto vs, they greatly wondred at the things that wee brought, but our Generall (according to his naturall and accustomed humanitie) courteously intreated them, and liberally bestowed on them necessary things to couer their nakednesse, whereupon they supposed vs to be gods, and would not be perswaded to the contrary: the presents which they sent to our Generall, were feathers, and calles of net-worke.
The houses are digged round about with earth, and haue from the vttermost brimmes of the circle, clifts of wood set vpon them, ioyning close together at the toppe like a spire steeple, which by reason of that closenesse are very warme.
Their beds is the ground with rushes strowed on it, and lying about the house, haue the fire in the midst. The men goe naked, the women take bulrushes, and kembe them after the manner of hempe, and thereof make their loose garments, which being knit about their middles, hang down about their hippes, hauing also about their shoulders a skinne of Deere, with the haire vpon it. These women are very obedient and seruiceable to their husbands.
A long oration. After they were departed from vs, they came and visited vs the second time, and brought with them feathers and bags of Tabacco for presents: And when they came to the top of the hill (at the bottome whereof we had pitched our tents) they staied themselues: where one appointed for speaker wearied himselfe with making a long oration, which done, they left their bowes vpon the hill, and came down with their presents.
- ↑ Now called Sir Francis Drake's Bay, north of the Golden Gate.
