: The Isle of Mauritius described.] This Island being situate to
the East of Madagascar, and containing as much in compasse as all Holland,
is a very high, goodly and pleasant land, full of green and fruitfull
vallies, and replenished with Palmito-trees, from the which droppeth
holesome wine. [Sidenote: Great store of Ebenwood.] Likewise here are very
many trees of right Ebenwood as black as iet, and as smooth and hard as the
very Iuory: and the quantity of this wood is so exceeding, that many ships
may be laden herewith.

For to saile into this hauen you must bring the two highest mountaines one
ouer the other, leauing sixe small Islands on your right hand, and so you
may enter in vpon 30. fadomes of water. Lying within the bay, they had 10.
12. and 14. fadomes. On their left hand was a litle Island which they named
Hemskerk Island, and the bay it selfe they called Warwick bay, as is before
mentioned. Here they taried 12. daies to refresh themselues, finding in
this place great quantity of foules twise as bigge as swans, which they
called Walghstocks or Wallowbirdes being very good meat. But finding also
aboundance of pidgeons and popiniayes, they disdained any more to eat of
those great foules, calling them (as before) Wallowbirds, that is to say,
lothsome or fulsome birdes.

Of the said Pidgeons and Popiniayes they found great plenty being very fat
and good meate, which they could easily take and kil euen with little
stickes: so tame they are by reason that the Isle is not inhabited, neither
be the liuing creatures therein accustomed to the sight of men.

Here they found rauens also, and such abundance of fish, that two men were
able to catch enough for all fiue ships.

Tortoises they found so huge, that tenne men might sit and dine in one of
their shelles, and one of them would creepe away, while two men stood vpon
the backe thereof.

Here was founde waxe also whiter then any of ours, lying about the strande,
bleached (as it is like) by the sunne: and in some of this waxe there were
Arabian letters or characters printed: whereby it is probable, that some
Arabian ship might bee cast away thereabout, out of which the said waxe
might be driuen on land.

They found likewise Corall on this land, and many trees which we call
Palmitos, whereout droppeth wine as out of the Coco-tree: which wine being
kept hath his operation as our new prest wine, but after some time it
commeth vnto the ful vertue and perfection.

The