Extract of 1,400 words from
“Sir Francis Drake’s Famous Voyage Round the World"
by Francis Pretty
[See Reading the Classics, for more on Mr Pretty]
The 17th day of August [1577] we departed the port of St Julian, and the 20th day we fell with the Strait of Megallan, going into the South Sea; at the cape or headland whereof we found the body of a dead man, whose flesh was clean consumed.
The 21st day we entered the Strait [where Drake changed the name of the Pelican to the Golden Hind]
and found it to have many turnings and, as it were, shuttings-up, as if
there were no passage at all. By means whereof we had the wind often
against us; so that some of the fleet recovering a cape or point of
land, others should be forced to turn back again, and to come to an
anchor where they could.
In this Strait there be many fair harbours, with store of fresh
water. But yet they lack their best commodity, for the water there is
of such depth, that no man shall find ground to anchor in, except it be
in some narrow river or corner, or between some rocks; so that if any
extreme blasts or contrary winds do come, whereunto the place is much
subject, it carrieth with it no small danger.
The land on both sides is very huge and mountainous; the lower
mountains whereof, although they be monstrous and wonderful to look
upon for their height, yet there are others which in height exceed them
in a strange manner, reaching themselves above their fellows so high,
that between them did appear three regions of clouds. These mountains
are covered with snow. At both the southerly and easterly parts of the
Strait there are islands, among which the sea hath his indraught into
the Straits, even as it hath in the main entrance of the frete. This
Strait is extreme cold, with frost and snow continually; the trees seem
to stoop with the burden of the weather, and yet are green continually,
and many good and sweet herbs do very plentifully grow and increase
under them. The breadth of the Strait is in some places a league, in
some other places two leagues and three leagues, and in some other four
leagues; but the narrowest place hath a league over.
The 24. of August we arrived at an island in the Straits,
where we found great store of fowl which could not fly, of the bigness
of geese; whereof we killed in less than one day 3,000, and victualled
ourselves thoroughly therewith.
The 6th day of September we entered the South Sea at the
cape or head shore. The 7th. day we were driven by a great storm from
the entering into the South Sea, 200 leagues and odd in longitude, and
one degree to the southward of the Strait; in which height, and so many
leagues to the westward, the 15. day of September, fell out the
eclipse of the moon at the hour of six of the clock at night. But
neither did the ecliptical conflict of the moon impair our state, nor
her clearing again amend us a whit; but the accustomed eclipse of the
sea continued in his force, we being darkened more than the moon
sevenfold. [In this storm the Marigold went down with all hands.]
From the bay which we called the Bay of Severing of Friends, we
were driven back to the southward of the Straits in 57 degrees and a
tierce; in which height we came to an anchor among the islands, having
there fresh and very good water, with herbs of singular virtue. Not far
from hence we entered another bay, where we found people, both men and
women, in their canoes naked, and ranging from one island to another to
seek their meat; who entered traffic with us for such things as they
had. We returning hence northward again, found the third of October
three islands, in one of which was such plenty of birds as is scant
credible to report.
The 8. day of October we lost sight of one of our consorts, wherein Master Winter was;
who, as then we supposed, was put by a storm into the Straits again.
Which at our return home we found to be true, and he not perished, as
some of our company feared. [Golden Hind now sailed on alone]. Thus being come in to the height of the Straits again, we ran, supposing the coast of Chili to
lie as the general maps have described it, namely north-west; which we
found to lie and trend to the north-east and eastwards. Whereby it
appeareth that this part of Chili hath not been truly hitherto
discovered, or at the least not truly reported, for the space of twelve
degrees at the least; being set down either of purpose to deceive, or
of ignorant conjecture.
We continuing our course, fell the 29. of November with an island called La Mocha, where
we cast anchor; and our General, hoisting out our boat, went with ten
of our company to shore. Where we found people, whom the cruel and
extreme dealings of the Spaniards have
forced, for their own safety and liberty, to flee from the main, and
to fortify themselves in this island. We being on land, the people came
down to us to the water side with show of great courtesy, bringing to
us potatoes, roots, and two very fat sheep; which our General received,
and gave them other things for them, and had promised to have water
there. But the next day repairing again to the shore, and sending two
men a-land with barrels to fill water, the people taking them for
Spaniards (to whom they use to show no favour if they take them) laid
violent hands on them, and, as we think, slew them.
Our General seeing this, stayed here no longer, but weighed anchor, and set sail towards the coast of Chili. And drawing towards it, we met near to the shore an Indian in a canoa, who thinking us to have been Spaniards, came to us and told us, that at a place called Santiago, there was a great Spanish ship laden from the kingdom of Peru; for
which good news our General gave him divers trifles. Whereof he was
glad, and went along with us and brought us to the place, which is
called the port of Valparaiso. When we came thither we found,
indeed, the ship riding at anchor, having in her eight Spaniards and
three negroes; who, thinking us to have been Spaniards, and their
friends, welcomed us with a drum, and made ready a botija [jar] of wine of Chili to drink to us. But as soon as we were entered, one of our company called Thomas Moon began to lay about him, and struck one of the Spaniards, and said unto him, Abaxo, perro! that
is in English. 'Go down, dog!' One of these Spaniards, seeing persons
of that quality in those seas, all to crossed and blessed himself. But,
to be short, we stowed them under hatches, all save one Spaniard, who
suddenly and desperately leapt overboard into the sea, and swam ashore
to the town of Santiago, to give them warning of our arrival.
They of the town, being not above nine households, presently fled
away and abandoned the town. Our General manned his boat and the
Spanish ship's boat, and went to the town; and, being come to it, we
rifled it, and came to a small chapel, which we entered, and found
therein a silver chalice, two cruets, and one altar-cloth, the spoil
whereof our General gave to Master Fletcher, his minister. We found also in this town a warehouse stored with wine of Chili and
many boards of cedar-wood; all which wine we brought away with us, and
certain of the boards to burn for firewood. And so, being come aboard,
we departed the haven, having first set all the Spaniards on land,
saving one John Griego, a Greek born, whom our General carried with him as pilot to bring him into the haven of Lima.
When we were at sea our General rifled the ship, and found in her good store of the wine of Chili, and 25,000 pesos of very pure and fine gold of Valdivia, amounting in value to 37,000 ducats of Spanish money, and above. . .
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