The  Spaniards  had  never  any  Commerce,  nor  ever  set  Foot  in  this
Country,  their  utmost  Acquisitions  being  many  degrees  Southward  thereof;
and  now  the  Time  of  their  Departure  being  at  hand,  the  joy  of  the  Natives


EARLY  BNGUSH  VOYAGES  79

was  drowned  in  extream  Sorrow,  pouring  out  wofiil  Complaints  and
grieyous  Sighs  and  Tears,  for  leaving  them  ;  yet  since  they  could  not  have
their  Presence  ( they  supposed  them  indeed  to  be  mindful  of  them  in  their
Absence)  declaring  by  signs  that  they  hoped  hereafter  to  see  them  again,
and  l)efore  the  English  were  awake,  set  fire  to  a  Sacrifice,  which  they
offered  to  them,  burning  therein  a  Chain  of  a  Bunch  of  Feathers.  The
General  endeavoured  by  all  means  to  hinder  their  Proceedings,  but  could
not  prevail,  till  they  fell  to  Prayers  and  singing  of  Psalms,  when  allured
thereby,  forgetting  their  Folly,  and  leaving  their  Sacrifice  unconsumed,
and  the  Fire,  to  go  out,  imitating  the  English  in  all  their  Actions,  they
lift  up  their  Heads  and  Eyes  to  Heaven  as  they  did.  July  23.  they  took  a
sorrowful  Leave  of  them  but  loath  to  part  with  them,  they  went  to  the  top
of  the  Hills  to  keep  sight  of  them  as  long  as  possible,  making  Fires  before,
behind,  and  on  each  side  of  them,  wherein  they  supposed  Sacrifices  were
offered  for  their  happy  Voyage.  A  little  without  their  Harbour  lye  certain
Isles  called  by  them  the  Islands  of  St.  James,  wherein  were  plenty  of  Seals
and  Fowls,  and  Landing  in  one  of  them  next  day,  they  supplied  themselves
with  competent  Provisions  for  some  time.
