t. Some persons who never
were out of their mothers' kitchens may ask how these Pirates could eat,
swallow and digest those pieces of leather, so hard and dry. Unto whom I
only answer: That could they once experiment what hunger, or rather
famine, is, they would certainly find the manner, by their own
necessity, as the Pirates did. For these first took the leather, and
sliced it in pieces. Then did they beat it between two stones and rub
it, often dipping it in the water of the river, to render it by these
means supple and tender. Lastly they scraped off the hair, and roasted
or broiled it upon the fire. And being thus cooked they cut it into
small morsels, and eat it, helping it down with frequent gulps of water,
which by good fortune they had nigh at hand.

"They continued their march the fifth day, and about noon came unto a
place called Barbacoa. Here likewise they found traces of another
ambuscade, but the place totally as unprovided as the two precedent
were. At a small distance were to be seen several plantations, which
they searched very narrowly, but could not find any person, animal or
other thing that was capable of relieving their extreme and ravenous
hunger. Finally, having ranged up and down and searched a long time,
they found a certain grotto which seemed to be but lately hewn out of a
rock, in which they found two sacks of meal, wheat and like things, with
two great jars of wine, and certain fruits called Platanos. Captain
Morgan, knowing that some of his men were now, through hunger, reduced
almost to the extremity of their lives, and fearing lest the major part
should be brought into the same condition, caused all that was found to
be distributed amongst them who were in greatest necessity. Having
refreshed themselves with these victuals, they began to march anew with
greater courage than ever. Such as could not well go for weakness were
put into the canoes, and those commanded to land that were in them
before. Thus they prosecuted their journey till late at night, at which
time they came unto a plantation where they took up their rest. But
without eating anything at all; for the Spaniards, as before, had swept
away all manner of provisions, leaving not behind them the least signs
of victuals.

"On the sixth day they continued their march, part of them by land
through the woods, and part by water in the canoes. Howbeit they were
constrained to rest themselves very frequently by the way, both for the