reuiued, because the Sea was calme and smooth
water, and then sounding we found twelue fadome water, and within a while
after wee had but sixe fadome, and then presently we came to anker with a
small anker that was left vs at the sterne, for all our other were lost in
the storme: and by and by the shippe stroke a ground, and then we did prop
her that she should not ouerthrow.

When it was day the shippe was all dry, and wee found her a good mile from
the Sea on drie land. [Sidenote: This Island is called Sondiua.] This
Touffon being ended, we discouered an Island not farre from vs, and we went
from the shippe on the sands to see what Island it was: and wee found it a
place inhabited, and, to my iudgement, the fertilest Island in all the
world, the which is diuided into two parts by a chanell which passeth
betweene it, and with great trouble we brought our ship into the same
chanel, which parteth the Island at flowing water, and there we determined
to stay 40. dayes to refresh vs. And when the people of the Island saw the
ship, and that we were comming a land: presently they made a place of bazar
or a market, with shops right ouer against the ship with all maner of
prouision of victuals to eate, which they brought downe in great abundance,
and sold it so good cheape, that we were amazed at the cheapenesse thereof.
I bought many salted kine there, for the prouision of the ship, for halfe a
Larine a piece, which Larine may be 12. shillings sixe pence, being very
good and fat; and 4. wilde hogges ready dressed for a Larine, great fat
hennes for a Bizze a piece, which is at the most a pennie: and the people
told vs that we were deceiued the halfe of our money, because we bought
things so deare. Also a sacke of fine rice for a thing of nothing, and
consequently all other things for humaine sustenance were there in such
aboundance, that it is a thing incredible but to them that haue seene it.
[Sidenote: Sondiua is the fruitfullest Countrey in al the world.] This
Island is called Sondiua belonging to the kingdome of Bengala, distant 120.
miles from Chatigan, to which place wee were bound. The people are Moores,
and the king a very good man of a Moore king, for if he had bin a tyrant as
others be, he might haue robbed vs of all, because the Portugall captaine
of Chatigan was in armes against the Retor of that place, and euery day
there were some slaine, at which newes we rested there with no smal feare,
keeping good watch and war