Our archers made themselves butts to shoot at,
because we had many that delighted in that exercise, and wanted not a
fletcher to keep our bows and arrows in order. The rest of the company,
every one as he liked best, made his disport at bowls, quoits, keiles,
etc. For our Captain allowed one half of the company to pass their time
thus, every other day interchangeable; the other half being enjoined to
the necessary works, about our ship and pinnaces, and the providing of
fresh victuals, fish, fowl, hogs, deer, conies, etc., whereof there is
great plenty. Here our smiths set up their forge, as they used, being
furnished out of England, with anvil, iron, coals, and all manner of
necessaries, which stood us in great stead.
At the end of these fifteen days (5th September), our Captain leaving
his ship in his brother's charge, to keep all things in order; himself
took with him, according to his former determination, two pinnaces for
Rio Grande, and passing by Cartagena but out of sight, when we were
within two leagues of the river, we landed (8th September), to the
westward on the Main, where we saw great store of cattle. There we found
some Indians, who asking us in friendly sort, in broken Spanish, "What
we would have?" and understanding that we desired fresh victuals in
traffic; they took such cattle for us as we needed, with ease and so
readily, as if they had a special commandment over them, whereas they
would not abide us to come near them.
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