eleventh day after, by our General's great care in dispersing his ships,
we found her again, and the place where we met our General called the
Cape of Joy, where every ship took in some water. Here we found a good
temperature and sweet air, a very fair and pleasant country with an
exceeding fruitful soil, where were great store of large and mighty
deer, but we came not to the sight of any people; but travelling further
into the country we perceived the footing of people in the clay ground,
shewing that they were men of great stature. Being returned to our ships
we weighed anchor, and ran somewhat further, and harboured ourselves
between the rock and the main; where by means of the rock that brake the
force of the sea, we rid very safe. And upon this rock we killed for our
provision certain sea-wolves, commonly called with us seals. From hence
we went our course to 36 degrees, and entered the great river of Plate,
and ran into 54 and 53 1/2 fathoms of fresh water, where we filled
our water by the ship's side; but our General finding here no good
harborough, as he thought he should, bare out again to sea the 27th of
April, and in bearing out we lost sight of our fly-boat wherein Master
Doughty was. But we, sailing along, found a fair and reasonable good
bay, wherein were many and the same profitable islands; one whereof had
so many seals as would at the least have laden all our ships, and
the rest of the islands are, as it were, laden with fowls, which is
wonderful to see, and they of divers sorts. It is a place very plentiful
of victuals, and hath in it no want of fresh water. Our General, after
certain days of his abode in this place, being on shore in an island,
the people of the country shewed themselves unto him, leaping and
dancing, and entered into traffic with him, but they would not receive
anything at any man's hands, but the same must be cast upon the ground.
They are of clean, comely, and strong bodies, swift on foot, and seem to
be very active.