several in the harbour, which they knew
were richly-laden, and kidnapped a number of wealthy persons on board
them.

Leaving Borneo, the two ships proceeded to the island of Cimbuhon. On
their way the crews insisted on deposing the pilot, Cavalho, who had
never been liked, and in his stead they chose Espinosa as
Captain-General, with Sebastian del Cano under him.

Finding a commodious port, with abundance of fresh water and fuel, they
hove down their ships and caulked them. This occupied them forty days.
To obtain suitable wood for repairs, they had to search for it in the
forests, and drag it with infinite labour from among the prickly bushes,
their feet suffering greatly, as their shoes had worn out.

It was here that the priest Pigafelta found what he fancied was an
animated leaf. He was watching a tree resembling that of a mulberry,
when several leaves fell off. The moment they were touched they sprang
away. He kept, he says, one of these animated leaves in a dish for
eight days. They were, in reality, not leaves, but insects, which, from
their resembling leaves, are enabled to escape the attacks of other
creatures; indeed, they were the well-known leaf-insect of the mantis
species.

The island abounded with cassowaries, the East Indian ostrich, and wild
hogs. They also captured a fish with a head resembling that of a hog,
having two horns and something like a saddle on its back. After leaving
this place, they encountered a tremendous storm, when, in their alarm,
they vowed to set free a slave, in honour of their three saints, Saint
Elmo, Saint Nicolas, and Saint Clare.

Anxiously they looked for the sign of the assistance they sought, when
at length, to their joy, they observed the desired lights flickering at
their mast-heads, which continued shining for two hours, when the storm
abated. They were thus convinced that Saint Elmo, the friend to
mariners, had come to their assistance, accompanied by the other two
saints.

At the next island, Sarraugan, where they touched, they seized two
natives, whom they compelled to go as their pilots to the
long-sought-for Moluccas. The Portuguese had reported that the sea was
too shallow to be navigated, but on sounding they found it upwards of
fifty fathoms. They well knew, indeed, that their rivals had an object
in describing it as dangerous.

At length, on the 8th of November, at sunrise, they entered the harbour
of Tidore, one of the Moluccas. The Mohamm