Whilst the shippes were together, the maine-mast of the _Daintie_ fell
by the bourd, and the people being occupied in ransacking and seeking
for spoile and pillage, neglected the principall; whereof ensued, that
within a short space the _Daintie_ grew so deepe with water, which
increased for want of prevention, that all who were in her desired to
forsake her, and weaved and cryed for succour to bee saved, being out of
hope of her recoverie.
[The _Daintie_ in danger of perishing.]
Whereupon, the generall calling together the best experimented men hee
had, and consulted with them what was best to bee done; it was resolved
that generall Michaell Angell should goe abourd the _Daintie_, and with
him threescore marriners, as many souldiers, and with them the English
men who were able to labour, to free her from water, and to put her in
order if it were possible; and then to recover Perico the port of
Panama; for that, of those to wind-wards, it was impossible to turne up
to any of them, and neerer then to le-ward was not any that could supply
our necessities and wants; which lay from us east north-east, above two
hundreth leagues.
[Michaell Arckangell recovereth the ship.]
Michaell Angell being a man of experience and care, accomplished that he
tooke in hand; although in clearing and bayling the water, in placing a
pumpe, and in fitting and mending her fore-saile, he spent above six and
thirtie howers.
During which time the shippes lay all a hull; but this worke ended, they
set sayle, and directed their course for the iles of Pearles. And for
that the _Daintie_ sayled badly, what for want of her maine-sayle, and
with the advantage which all the South-sea shippes have of all those
built in our North-sea, the admirall gave her a tawe;[236] which
notwithstanding, the wind calming with us as we approached neerer to the
land, twelve dayes were spent before we could fetch sight of the ilands;
which lye alongst the coast, beginning some eight leagues, west
south-west from Panama, and run to the south-wards neere thirtie
leagues. They are many, and the most unhabited; and those which have
people, have some negroes, slaves unto the Spaniards, which occupie
themselves in labour of the land, or in fishing for pearles.
[Fishing for pearles.]
In times past, many inriched themselves with that trade, but now it is
growne to decay. The manner of fishing for pearles is, with certaine
long pinaces or small barkes, in which there goe foure, five, sixe, or
eight negroes, expert swimmers, and great deevers,[237] whom the
Spaniards call _busos_; with tract of time, use, and continuall
practise, having learned to hold their breath long under water, for the
better atchieving their worke. These throwing themselves into the sea,
with certaine instruments of their art, goe to the bottome, and seeke
the bankes of the oysters in which the pearles are ingendred, and with
their force and art remouve them from their foundation; in which they
spend more or lesse time, according to the resistance the firmnes of the
ground affordeth. Once loosed, they put them into a bagge under their
armes, and after bring them up into their boates. Having loaden it, they
goe to the shoare; there they open them and take out the pearles: they
lie under the uttermost part of the circuite of the oyster, in rankes
and proportions, under a certaine part, which is of many pleights and
folds, called the ruffe, for the similitude it hath unto a ruffe.
The pearles increase in bignes, as they be neerer the end or joynt of
the oyster. The meate of those which have these pearles is milkie, and
not very wholesome to be eaten.
In anno 1583, in the iland of Margarita,[238] I was at the dregging of
pearle oysters, after the manner we dregge oysters in England; and with
mine owne hands I opened many, and tooke out the pearles of them, some
greater, some lesse, and in good quantitie.
How the pearle is ingendred in the oyster, or mussell, for they are
found in both, divers and sundry are the opinions, but some ridiculous:
whereof, because many famous and learned men have written largely, I
will speake no more then hath beene formerly spoken, but referre their
curious desires to Pliny, with other ancient and moderne authors.
[The places where pearle are found.]
They are found in divers parts of the world, as in the West Indies, in
the South sea, in the East Indian sea, in the Straites of Magellane, and
in the Scottish sea.
Those found neere the pooles[239] are not perfect, but are of a thick
colour; whereas such as are found neere the line, are most orient and
transparent: the curious call it their water: and the best is a cleare
white shining, with fierie flames. And those of the East India have the
best reputation, though as good are found in the West India; the choice
ones are of great valew and estimation; but the greatest that I have
read or heard of, was found in these ilands of Pearles; the which king
Phillip the Second of Spaine gave to his daughter Elizabeth, wife to
Albertus, arch-duke of Austria, and governour of the states of
Flaunders; in whose possession it remaineth, and is called _la
peregrina_,[240] for the rarenes of it; being as bigge as the pomell of
a poniard.