the hope of life, we turned our backs and ran to the boats.  While thus disheartened and flying, one of our sailors, a Portuguese, a man of fifty-five years of age, who had remained to guard the boat, seeing the danger we were in, jumped on shore, and with a loud voice called out to us, “Children! turn your faces to your enemies, and God will give you the victory!” Throwing himself on his knees, he made a prayer, and then rushed furiously upon the Indians, and we all joined with him, wounded as we were.  On that, they turned their backs to us and began to flee, and finally we routed them and killed one hundred fifty.  We burned their houses also, at least one hundred eighty in number.  Then, as we were badly wounded and weary, we returned to the ships, and went into a harbor to recruit, where we stayed twenty days, solely that the physician might cure us.  All escaped except one, who was wounded in the left breast.

After being cured, we recommenced our navigation, and, through the same cause, we often were obliged to fight with a great many people, and always had the victory over them.  Thus continuing our voyage, we came upon an island, fifteen leagues distant from the mainland.  As at our arrival we saw no collection of people, the island appearing favorably, we determined to attempt it, and eleven of us landed.  We found a path, in which we walked nearly two leagues inland, and came to a village of about twelve houses, in which there were only seven women, who were so large that there was not one among them who was not a span and a half taller than myself.  When they saw us, they were very much frightened, and the principal one among them, who was certainly a discreet woman, led us by signs into a house, and had refreshments prepared for us.

We saw such large women that were about determining to carry off two young ones, about fifteen years of age, and make a present of them to their king, as they were, without doubt, creatures whose stature was above that of common men.  While we were debating this subject, thirty-six men entered the house where we were drinking; they were of such large stature that each one was taller when upon his knees than I when standing erect.  In fact, they were of the stature of giants in their size and in the proportion of their bodies, which corresponded well with their height.  Each of the women appeared a Pantasilea, and the men Antei.  When they came in, some of our own number were so frightened that they did not consider themselves safe.  They had bows and arrows, and very large clubs made in the form of swords.  Seeing that we were of small stature, they began to converse with us, in order to learn who we were and from what parts we came.  We gave them fair words, for the sake of peace, and said that we were going to see the world.  Finally, we held it to be our wisest course to part from them without questioning in our turn; so returned by the same path in which we had come, they accompanying us quite to the sea, till we went on board the ships.