So that of the increase thereof they keep a continual traffic with
their neighbours.
Amongst other things we found here a kind of fruit called _cocos_, which
because it is not commonly known with us in England, I thought good to
make some description of it. The tree beareth no leaves nor branches,
but at the very top the fruit groweth in clusters, hard at the top of
the stem of the tree, as big every several fruit as a man's head; but
having taken off the uttermost bark, which you shall find to be very
full of strings or sinews, as I may term them, you shall come to a hard
shell, which may hold a quantity of liquor a pint commonly, or some
a quart, and some less. Within that shell, of the thickness of
half-an-inch good, you shall have a kind of hard substance and very
white, no less good and sweet than almonds; within that again, a certain
clear liquor which being drunk, you shall not only find it very delicate
and sweet, but most comfortable and cordial.
After we had satisfied ourselves with some of these fruits, we marched
further into the island, and saw great store of _cabritos_ alive, which
were so chased by the inhabitants that we could do no good towards our
provision; but they had laid out, as it were to stop our mouths withal,
certain old dried _cabritos_, which being but ill, and small and few,
we made no account of. Being returned to our ships, our General departed
hence the 31st of this month, and sailed by the island of Santiago, but
far enough from the danger of the inhabitants, who shot and discharged
at us three pieces; but they all fell short of us, and did us no harm.
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