DRAKE'S BAY.

neighboring hills and looked down with wonder and amazement, so much so, that the English supposed themselves taken for gods; a supposition which proved correct, for, descending, the male Indians brought ornaments, net-work, quivers, skins, etc., intended for offerings, while the women performed divers wild and violent dances, in which many of the participants were cut and wounded.
   In order to prevent a repetition of this gruesome spectacle, Drake ordered religious services to be performed in their presence, thus indicating that they too were but creatures of a God above.
   After prayers, psalms were sung which especially attracted the attention of the Indians.
   Music was a language they could understand, being a universal language intelligible to every human heart, and they were

A BIT OF ROCKY SHORE.

so delighted that at every pause they testified their pleasure.
   The business of repairing and refitting the vessel being at length finished, the cargo re-embarked and the peaceful character of the Indians being now so well understood that no trouble from them was apprehended, Drake, with a number of his crew made a short excursion inland, which being necessarily made on foot extended but a few miles, and did not afford any wide or distant view; and the English, like the Spaniards under Cabrillo, though within less than a day's travel of the most spacious and magnificent bay in the world, had no idea of its existence.
   When ready to sail, Drake erected, by way of monument and memorial of his having been there and taken possession of the country, a large post, firmly planted, upon which he caused to be nailed a plate of brass engraven with the name of the English Queen, the day and date of his arrival, the