ter being collected in sails and sheets.

When in the tropics they saw, for the first time, shoals of flying-fish
of the size of pilchards, chased by bonitos and dolphins, or
"_dorados_," as the Spaniards called them. Also, as they watched the
flying-fish trying to escape from their foes in the water, they observed
huge birds pounce down and seize the helpless fugitives. Cuttle-fish
likewise--strange, black creatures--leapt on board the ships in
considerable numbers. These and other novel sights did not fail to
interest them. On the 5th of April they sighted the coast of Brazil,
where the land was low, and, sounding, they found only twelve fathoms
three leagues off the shore. Huge fires were observed, kindled by the
inhabitants. The Portuguese had before this landed on the coast, and
reduced the natives to a miserable stage of bondage, compelling them by
their cruelty to fly from the fertile parts of the country into the more
unfruitful districts.

Drake wished to go on shore, but, finding no harbour, the squadron
coasted along until the 7th of April, when a terrible storm of wind from
the southward rose, during which the _Christopher_ was separated from
the rest of the fleet. She was the caunter taken at Blanco, on which
the name of _Christopher_ was bestowed when the vessel originally
so-called was given to the prisoners. After the squall, which lasted
only three hours, the squadron continued beating to the southward, until
they got off the Rio de la Plata, up which they ran until they came to
an anchor under Cape Joy. Drake so-called it from the satisfaction he
felt at seeing the _Christopher_ come in two days after they had
anchored, he having thoughtfully appointed it as a rendezvous, should
any of the vessels be separated.

Among the principal of his subordinate objects was to keep the fleet
together, to obtain good drinking-water and fresh provisions as often as
possible. They found the climate delicious, and saw a number of large
deer. Considerably higher up the river they anchored near some rocks,
where they killed a large number of seals, or sea-wolves, as the
Spaniards called them. They found their flesh wholesome and pleasant,
and salted a number for their further use.

Having spent a fortnight in the River Plate, they again put to sea, when
shortly afterwards the fly-boat _Swan_ was lost sight of. In order to
save the inconvenience of so many vessels to look after, Drake
determined to lesse