Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
under three months. Beyond that he knew nothing. He would be pro-
ceeding, as mariners called it, 'by guess and by God'.
In fact, the
Golden Hind
enjoyed a trouble-free crossing. Sixty-
six days with the trade winds at her back brought her to the Caroline
Islands where she was soon surrounded by Polynesian canoes
whose occupants brandished fruit, fish and coconuts, suggesting
that they wanted to trade. Drake had read of Magellan's experiences
in these waters and was wary. As soon as there was any sign of
trouble, he fired off a culverin to frighten the importunate natives
and, when that failed to disperse them, he had his arquebusiers
shoot directly at the boats, killing about twenty men. Drake had not
come all this way to be stopped now by a bunch of 'thieving savages'.
On 21 October the voyagers reached Mindanao, took on fresh
food and water and then sailed south in search of the Spice Islands.
Drake hoped to crown his achievements by establishing an English
presence in the Orient trade. Yet, only after wandering chartless for
days among the reefs and islands did he come to Ternate. Sultan
Baab received the newcomers in princely splendour:
The king at last coming from the castle, with 8 or 10 more grave
senators following him, had a very rich canopy (adorned in the midst
with embossings of gold) borne over him, and was guarded with 12
lances, the points turned downward. Our men (accompanied with
Moro the king's brother) arose to meet him, and he very graciously did
welcome and entertain them. He was for person of low voice, temper-
ate in speech, in kingly demeanour, and a Moor by nation. His attire
was after the fashion of the rest of his country, but far more sumptu-
ous, as his condition and state required: From the waist to the ground
was all cloth of gold, and that very rich: his legs bare, but on his feet
a pair of shoes of goat skin, dyed red. In the attire of his head, were
finely wreathed in diverse rings of plated gold, of an inch or an inch
and a half in breadth, which made a fair and princely show, somewhat
