n their number, that the crews of those remaining
might be strengthened and have less duty to perform. Winter was coming
on, and, in order to prepare for it, a convenient harbour was searched
for. While examining the coast, on May 8th, during another storm, the
caunter was again separated from the fleet. The ships being much tossed
about, they stood in with the intention of coming to an anchor near a
headland, off which many rocks were observed. Drake, who never trusted
to other men when he could perform the work himself, despising danger
and toil, had a boat lowered, and rowed in himself to examine the bay.

Approaching the shore, a native was seen singing and dancing, and
shaking a rattle, expecting him to land. Suddenly the wind still
further increased, while a thick fog coming on, the Admiral lost sight
of his ships. He immediately pulled off to try and regain them, but
would very probably have been lost in the heavy sea running, had not
Captain Thomas of the _Marigold_, at great risk, stood in, and having
taken him on board, bravely rode out the gale.

Next morning the weather cleared, but the rest of the ships were nowhere
visible; the Admiral, therefore, landing, lighted up large signal-fires
in the hopes of their being seen by the ships. The natives had fled up
the country for fear of the strangers. The seamen found, however, in
their huts near the shore the flesh of upwards of fifty ostriches cured,
as well of that of other birds, the size of the former being equal to
legs of mutton. They discovered also the device by which the ostriches
were captured. This consisted of the head, neck, and plumage of the
bird fixed to the end of a pole, with large feathers sticking out behind
sufficient to conceal a man's body. With these the ostriches were
stalked and driven either into some neck of land, or against large and
strong nets, with the assistance of dogs.

The dispersed ships, seeing the fires, shortly came to an anchor,
excepting the _Swan_ and the _Mary_, the Portugal prize, which had
parted company. This not being a convenient place, the squadron sailed
on the 15th of May, and on the 17th anchored in a sheltered bay, where
they remained fifteen days. Having made various necessary arrangements,
the Admiral sailed northwards to look out for the _Swan_, and dispatched
Captain Winter in the _Elizabeth_ for the same object. She was
fortunately soon discovered, and being brought back, was unladen and ru