y, set fire to one of their villages, which
being built of wood thatched with leaves, burnt rapidly. He also killed
some of the natives, who, when they were wounded, drew out the arrows,
and gazed at them with astonishment, as if they had never before seen
such weapons. When the Spaniards retired, after their cruel exploit,
the natives followed them in wellnigh a hundred canoes, as if disposed
to renew the traffic; but instead of doing so, as they got near,
uttering shouts and shrieks, they threw showers of stones on board the
ships, and then took rapidly to flight.
Having refreshed themselves, and finding no advantage could be gained by
a longer stay at the Ladrones, the Spaniards set sail. They touched at
a beautiful uninhabited island, where they found springs of clear water
and abundance of fruit-trees, and to this the Admiral gave the name of
the Island of Good Signs.
While the ships lay at anchor, canoes from other islands, seen in the
distance, came towards them, bringing presents of fish, cocoa-nuts,
cocoa-nut wine, and other provisions. Though nearly naked, they were
remarkably well behaved, and wore ornaments of gold, and cotton
head-dresses. Their bodies were tatooed and perfumed with aromatic
oils. They used harpoons and fishing--nets, and had swords, lances,
clubs, and shields.
When the Spaniards went on shore they found that the island was
cultivated, and that spices were grown, of which they saw considerable
stores. The whole group was at first called the Archipelago of Saint
Lazarus, but it is now known as a portion of the Philippines. The
island where the squadron anchored was called Humuna. The wine, it was
found, was the sap of a tree, which was drawn out by cutting off a
branch, into which a large reed was fixed, and by its means the sap, of
a light amber colour, with a tart taste, dropped out, when it was
considered at once fit for drinking.
The fruit, with which many of the voyagers now first became acquainted,
was described as big as a man's head, with two rinds, the outermost
being green, two fingers thick, and full of strings and shreds. Within
this was a shell of considerable thickness and very hard, the kernel
being white and of the thickness of a finger, with a pleasant taste like
that of almonds. In the midst was a hollow full of pure limpid water,
of a very cordial and refreshing nature. When the natives wish to make
oil of it, they leave the root to steep in water until
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