to be very obedient to
their lords and masters, and did not even venture to move without asking
permission. The men wore scarcely any clothing whatever.

Having satisfied their curiosity, or whatever brought them to visit the
strangers, they retired towards some woods seen in the distance, where
their dwellings were supposed to be.

Scarcely had they reached the woods, when they began weeping and crying
out, the women especially shrieking in shrill tones, the sounds,
although they were three-quarters of a mile off, reaching to the fort.

Drake wisely considered, in consequence of the experience he had had
with other savages, notwithstanding the humble way in which they had
behaved, that it would be dangerous to trust them too much, well aware,
also, that any trifling event might cause a breach of the peace.

For two days none of the savages came near the voyagers, who were thus
able to finish the fort without interruption. It was constructed of
rough stones and stakes, so that with their guns and crossbows it might
easily be defended against any number of assailants.

At the end of two days a still larger number of people than before
appeared in the distance, men, women, and children, who brought with
them, as they had before, feathers and bags of _tabak_, as propitiatory
offerings. On reaching the top of a hill they stopped, when one of
their number, who appeared to be their chief, commenced an oration in a
loud voice, which could be clearly heard, though he was at some
distance; while he used at the same time the strangest and most violent
gestures, exerting himself until he was breathless.

When he had concluded, the rest bowed their bodies, crying "Oh!" as if
to give their consent to the truth of all he had spoken. This done, the
men, leaving their bows and arrows on the top of the hill with their
women and children, approached the fort with their presents. As they
did so, the women began shrieking in the most piteous tones, tearing
their flesh with their nails, and dashing themselves against hard stones
and stumps of trees and prickly bushes until blood streamed from their
cheeks and all parts of their bodies. Supposing that they were
performing some rite in honour of the diabolical beings they worshipped,
Drake, to avert the evil which might ensue should he calmly sanction
such a proceeding, ordered his men to fall on their knees, he himself
setting the example. There they offered up prayers to God, t