Under Sail Again

However, we remained at anchor nineteen days, and on the evening of January twenty-fourth, in the year of grace 1634, much to the relief of all, I dare venture to say, the Ark  and the Dove  were got under way.

Next day we passed the island of St. Lucia, and in the evening were come to Matalina, where we saw half a dozen strangely built boats, called canoes, in which were brown men, who, so the people of the island told us, had but lately eaten several Englishmen.

It was said that all these dark-skinned natives on the islands near about were cannibals, and truly they were not pleasing to look upon.

I had been eager to see the brown people of the New World; but this one glimpse was enough to satisfy me for all time.

My father declares that in the Province of Maryland we shall come upon brown people who are inclined to be friendly with those whose skins are white, and who do not make a practice of eating Englishmen.

Four and twenty hours later we were at the island of St. Christopher, where is a colony of French people, and by them we were treated with exceeding friendliness, being supplied at low cost with such stores as we stood in need of.

Here we remained two days only, for Governor Calvert was eager to continue the voyage, and gentlemen, as well as serving men, lent a hand in taking on board the goods which had been bought for our comfort and well-being.