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expecting to find the harbour in which the Portuguese lived. But we were mistaken.

Now when the clouds had broken a little, so that the land could be seen, Roman said that he thought the harbour was before us and that we were to steer straight to a rock,behind which lay the harbour. We sailed to it, and as we came close upon it, we saw nothing but death before our eyes, for it was not the harbour, and we were obliged to sail straight upon the land on account of the wind, and to suffer shipwreck. The waves dashed against the shore, causing horror. Then we prayed to God for mercy and salvation for our souls, and did as beseems seafaring men, who are about to be shipwrecked.

As we came where the waves broke upon the coast, we rose so high on the waters that we looked down upon a steep as from a wall. The first shock with which the ship went aground, broke her to pieces. Then several sprang out and swam at once for the land, some of us arrived on shore upon the fragments. In such manner God helped us all, one with another, alive on the coast, and it blew and rained so hard that we were truly cast away.

Now when we had reached the shore, we thanked God that he had permitted us to reach land alive, and yet we were also sad, for we knew not where we might be, inasmuch as Roman did neither quite recognize the country, nor could tell whether we were far from or near to the Island of S. Vincente, also whether savage men dwelt there, from whom we might suffer harm. And it happened that one of our companions named Claudio (who was a Frenchman) ran