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FATHER WHITE'S NARRATIVE. 73
usual sea-sickness, no one was attacked by any disease, until the Festival of the Nativity
of our Lord. In order that that day might be better kept, wine was given out; and those
who drank of it too freely, were seized the next day with a fever; and of these, not long
afterwards, about twelve died, among whom were two Catholics. The loss of Nicholas
Fairfax and James Barefote was deeply felt among us.
While continuing our voyage (after having seen the Sunfish, which swims with
difficulty against the course of the sun, and is a sign of storms, and indeed after more
than one storm), we met with many curious things. Especially Flying fish, which sometimes swim in the sea, and sometimes fly up in the air. They are about the size of
flounders or the larger giltheads, and very much resemble these in their delicious flavor.
A hundred of them rise into the air at once, when flying from the Dolphins which
pursue them. Some of them fell into our ship, their wings failing them; for in one flight
they do not fly over a greater space than two or three acres, then, because their fins are
dried by the air, they plunge into the water again, and venture a second time into the air.
When we were twenty-one degrees and some minutes from the equator, where the tropic
begins, we could see the birds which are called, from the place where they are found, the
tropic birds, hovering in the air. These are as large as falcons, and are remarkable
for having two very long, white feathers in their tails; it is uncertain whether they
always stay in the air, or sometimes rest on the water. The other things I omit, as being
already known from the letters of others.
When we had sailed beyond the Fortunate Islands, Lord Leonard Calvert, the
commander of the enterprise, began to consider where he could get any merchandise to
load the ship with, on its return, in order to defray the expenses of his brother, the Baron
of Baltimore. For he, having originated the whole expedition, had to bear all the
expense. No profit was expected from our countrymen in Virginia: for they are hostile
to this new settlement; accordingly we were directing our course to the Island of St.
Christopher, when, after holding a council, apprehending that at that late season of the
year others had been before us, we turned our prows to the south to go to Bonavista.
This island, situated near Angola on the African coast, 14 degrees from the equator, is a
post of the Hollanders, where they collect salt, which they afterwards carry home, or
take to cure fish with in Greenland. The abundance of salt, and also the number of
goats which are found on the island, were inducements for us to go there; for it has no
other inhabitants. Only a few Portuguese, transported for crime, drag out their lives the
best way they can. We had gone barely 200 miles when, changing our plans a second
time, at the suggestion of some among us, lest provisions should fail us, in going so far
out of our way, we turned aside into Barbadoes which we reached on the third of
January. ******
On the twenty-fourth of January, we weighed anchor in the night, and passing the
Island of St. Lucia on our left, about noon of the following day, we reached Matalina
towards evening. At this place two canoes full of naked men appeared, who, keeping at
a distance from apprehension, of our huge ship, held up (Pumpkins,) gourds, the fruit of
the Plane tree, and Parrots, offering to exchange them. They were a savage race, fat,
shining with red paint, who knew no God, and devoured the flesh of human beings; and
they had before made away with several English interpreters. They inhabit a country
which is especially fertile, but is entirely covered with woods, having no open plains.
Hanging out a white flag,.as a sign of peace, we invited those who were displaying
themselves in the distance, to trade with us, but objecting to this sign they made their
usual signals.
After we repeated these, when they understood who we were, they took courage and
came up nearer, but not trusting too much to so powerful a ship, they took only a few
little bells and knives, and went to the pinnace, promising that if we should decide to
stay until the next day, they would bring better wares. Some one, I hope, will hereafter
Object Description
| Title | History of Maryland - 1 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
Description
| Title | 00000098 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | FATHER WHITE'S NARRATIVE. 73 usual sea-sickness, no one was attacked by any disease, until the Festival of the Nativity of our Lord. In order that that day might be better kept, wine was given out; and those who drank of it too freely, were seized the next day with a fever; and of these, not long afterwards, about twelve died, among whom were two Catholics. The loss of Nicholas Fairfax and James Barefote was deeply felt among us. While continuing our voyage (after having seen the Sunfish, which swims with difficulty against the course of the sun, and is a sign of storms, and indeed after more than one storm), we met with many curious things. Especially Flying fish, which sometimes swim in the sea, and sometimes fly up in the air. They are about the size of flounders or the larger giltheads, and very much resemble these in their delicious flavor. A hundred of them rise into the air at once, when flying from the Dolphins which pursue them. Some of them fell into our ship, their wings failing them; for in one flight they do not fly over a greater space than two or three acres, then, because their fins are dried by the air, they plunge into the water again, and venture a second time into the air. When we were twenty-one degrees and some minutes from the equator, where the tropic begins, we could see the birds which are called, from the place where they are found, the tropic birds, hovering in the air. These are as large as falcons, and are remarkable for having two very long, white feathers in their tails; it is uncertain whether they always stay in the air, or sometimes rest on the water. The other things I omit, as being already known from the letters of others. When we had sailed beyond the Fortunate Islands, Lord Leonard Calvert, the commander of the enterprise, began to consider where he could get any merchandise to load the ship with, on its return, in order to defray the expenses of his brother, the Baron of Baltimore. For he, having originated the whole expedition, had to bear all the expense. No profit was expected from our countrymen in Virginia: for they are hostile to this new settlement; accordingly we were directing our course to the Island of St. Christopher, when, after holding a council, apprehending that at that late season of the year others had been before us, we turned our prows to the south to go to Bonavista. This island, situated near Angola on the African coast, 14 degrees from the equator, is a post of the Hollanders, where they collect salt, which they afterwards carry home, or take to cure fish with in Greenland. The abundance of salt, and also the number of goats which are found on the island, were inducements for us to go there; for it has no other inhabitants. Only a few Portuguese, transported for crime, drag out their lives the best way they can. We had gone barely 200 miles when, changing our plans a second time, at the suggestion of some among us, lest provisions should fail us, in going so far out of our way, we turned aside into Barbadoes which we reached on the third of January. ****** On the twenty-fourth of January, we weighed anchor in the night, and passing the Island of St. Lucia on our left, about noon of the following day, we reached Matalina towards evening. At this place two canoes full of naked men appeared, who, keeping at a distance from apprehension, of our huge ship, held up (Pumpkins,) gourds, the fruit of the Plane tree, and Parrots, offering to exchange them. They were a savage race, fat, shining with red paint, who knew no God, and devoured the flesh of human beings; and they had before made away with several English interpreters. They inhabit a country which is especially fertile, but is entirely covered with woods, having no open plains. Hanging out a white flag,.as a sign of peace, we invited those who were displaying themselves in the distance, to trade with us, but objecting to this sign they made their usual signals. After we repeated these, when they understood who we were, they took courage and came up nearer, but not trusting too much to so powerful a ship, they took only a few little bells and knives, and went to the pinnace, promising that if we should decide to stay until the next day, they would bring better wares. Some one, I hope, will hereafter |
