&hap. VII. of the Weft-Indies: 43
difcourie ; It made fome hate their calling to teach and Convert Indians. But Calvo he encouraged us, telling us many (tories of the good and gentle nature of the Indians of rf>ilippina*> to whom we were going, and that mod of theni were Chriftians already, who efteemed their Priefts as Gods upon the Earth ; and that thofe that were not as yet Converged to Chriftianity, were kept in awe by the power of the Spaniards. Our chief care the firft two or three days was to look to our Plantins which we got from the Indians. This Fruit pleafed us all exceedingly, judging ic to be as good, or better then any Fruit in Spain. It is not gathered Ripe from the Tree • but being gathered Green, ic is hung up fome days, and fo Ripens and grows Yellow and Mellow, and every bit as fweet as Honey» Our Sugar Canes were no lefspleafing unto us, whilft chewing the pith, we refrefhed and iweetned our mouths with the juice. We fed for the fiift week almoft upon nothing but Tertoü ; which fecmed likewife to us that had never before feen it, oneof the £ea monfters, the fhell being fo hard as to bear any Cart Wheel, and in iome above two yards broad j when firft they were opened, we were amazed to fee the number of Eggs that were in them, a thoufand being the lead that we judged to be in forfreof thmn Our Spaniards made with them an excellent broth with all forts of Spices. The meat feemed rather FleiTi ^hen Sea Fifh, which being corned with Salt, and hung up two or three diys in the Aire, tailed like Veal. Thus our Hens, our Sheep, our powdred Beef, and Gammons of Bacon, which we brought from Spain, were fome days flighted, while with greedy Scomacks we fell hard to our Sea Veal.
After four days Sail, our Frier John de la Cueva $ who had f)een (hot by the Indians » died,* all his body being fwelled, which gave us juft occafion to think, that the Arrow which was (ho| into hisihoulder waspoifoned. His Burial was as folemnly performed as could be at Sea. His Grave being the whole Ocean, he had weighty ftones hung to his feet, two inore to his ilioulders, and one to his breft$ and then the iaperftuioqs Rqw$ Dirige and ReqaUm being iung for his
Soul,
?
