road for our ships; for such was the depth
that no ground could be had for anchoring. And it is reported that
ground was never found in that place; so that the tops of _Fogo_ burn
not so high in the air, but the roots of _Brava_ are quenched as low in
the sea.

Being departed from these islands, we drew towards the line, where we
were becalmed the space of three weeks, but yet subject to divers great
storms, terrible lightnings and much thunder. But with this misery we
had the commodity of great store of fish, as dolphins, bonitos, and
flying-fishes, whereof some fell into our ships; wherehence they could
not rise again for want of moisture, for when their wings are dry they
cannot fly.

From the first day of our departure from the islands of Cape Verde, we
sailed 54 days without sight of land. And the first land that we fell
with was the coast of Brazil, which we saw the fifth of April, in the
height of 33 degrees towards the pole Antarctic. And being discovered
at sea by the inhabitants of the country, they made upon the coast great
fires for a sacrifice (as we learned) to the devils; about which they
use conjurations, making heaps of sand, and other ceremonies, that when
any ship shall go about to stay upon their coast, not only sands may
be gathered together in shoals in every place, but also that storms and
tempests may arise, to the casting away of ships and men, whereof, as it
is reported, there have been divers experiments.

The 7th day in a mighty great storm, both of lightning, rain, and
thunder, we lost the canter, which we called the Christopher. But the
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