Being past the Cape, the 7. and 8. of August, by a storme of weather fiue ships were separated from the Admirall, who afterwardes came together againe before Bantam.

[Sidenote:  They meete with a ship of Zealand.] The 26. of August with three shippes wee came within the view of Madagascar, and the 29. wee met with a ship of Zeeland, called the Long barke, which had put to sea before vs, and now kept aloofe from us, supposing we were enemies:  but at length perceiuing by our flagges what we were, they sent their Pinnas aboord vs, reioycing greatly to haue met with vs, because that diuers of their men were sicke, and ten were already dead:  and they had in all but seuen men aboord the shippe that were meat-whole, and eleuen mariners to guide the shippe.  Wee agreed to relieue them with some supplie of men:  but through darkenesse and great winde wee lost them againe.

[Sidenote:  The Isle of Santa Maria.] After this, we the Admiral Mauritius, the Hollandia, and the pinnas Ouerijssel keeping together, came to the Island of Santa Maria, before the great bay of Antogil in Madagascar:  where wee got a small quantity of Rice.  We tooke the King prisoner, who paide for his ransome a Cow and a fat calfe.

In this Island we found no great commodity:  for being the month of September, the season was not for any fruits:  the Oranges had but flowers:  Lemons were scant:  of Sugarcanes and Hens there was some store, but the Inhabitants were not very forward in bringing them out.

[Sidenote:  Killing of the whale.] Heere we sawe the hunting of the Whale, (a strange pastime) certaine Indians in a Canoa, or boate following a great Whale, and with a harping Iron, which they cast forth, piercing the whals body, which yron was fastned to a long rope made of the barkes of trees, and so tied fast to their Canoa.  All this while pricking and wounding the whale so much as they could, they made him furiously to striue too and fro, swiftly swimming in the sea, plucking the canoa after him:  sometimes tossing it vp and downe, as lightly as if it had been a strawe.  The Indians in the meane time being cunning swimmers taking small care though they were cast ouerboord, tooke fast hold by the boat stil, and so after some continuance of this sport, the whale wearied and waxing faint, and staining the sea red with his bloud, they haled him toward the shore, and when they had gotten him so neare shore on the shallowe that the most part of him appeared aboue water, they drew him aland and hewed him in pieces, euery one taking thereof what pleased them, which was to vs a strange sight.  It is reported that the Indians of Terra Florida vse the like fishing for the Whale.  Our men might haue taken some part thereof, but refused it:  the pieces thereof were so like larde or fat bacon.

[Sidenote:  The Bay of Antogill.] From thence we made toward the great Bay of Antogill and ankered vnder the Island, where wee tooke in fresh water.