Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
coast in a latitude variously recorded in early documents as between
38°N and 48°N.
For over a century scholars have argued about the exact loca-
tion of this landfall which, because of subsequent events, took on a
special significance in the history of the USA. While Drake beached
his ship to carry out the necessary repairs, he also patiently estab-
lished friendly relations with the shy Indians who lived in that place.
On 26 June 1579 a remarkable ceremony occurred. The chief came
down to the white men's camp attended by hundreds of his people,
dancing, chanting and bearing gifts. The ruler made a speech and
then presented Drake with a feathered head-dress, necklaces and
other adornments. Unable to understand what was meant by these
rituals, the visitors put their own interpretation on them:
. . . the king and divers others made several orations, or rather,
indeed, if we had understood them, supplications, that he would take
the province and kingdom into his hand, and become their king and
patron; making signs that they would resign unto him their right and
title in the whole land; which that they might make us indeed believe
that it was their true meaning and intent, the king himself, with all
the rest, with one consent and with great reverence, joyfully singing
a song, set the crown upon his head, enriched his neck with all their
chains, and offering unto him many other things, honoured him by the
name of Hyóh. Adding thereunto (as it might seem) a song and dance
of triumph; because they were not only visited of the gods (for so they
still judged us to be), but the great and chief God was now become
their God, their king and patron, and themselves were become the only
happy and blessed people in the world.
These things being so freely offered, our general thought not meet
to reject or refuse the same, . . .
