Thinking he had in some measure revenged the public injuries of his country upon the Spaniards, as well as his own private losses, the admiral began to deliberate about returning home; but was in some hesitation as to the course he ought to steer.  To return by the Straits of Magellan, the only passage yet discovered, he concluded would throw himself into the hands of the Spaniards, who would probably there waylay him with a greatly superior force, having now only one ship left, which was by no means strong, though very rich.[30] He therefore, on maturely weighing all circumstances, determined to proceed by way of the Moluccas, and following the course of the Portuguese, to get home by the Cape of Good Hope.  Endeavouring to put this design in execution, but being becalmed, he found it necessary to steer more northwardly along the coast of America, in order to get a wind; in which view he sailed at least 600 leagues, which was all the way he was able to make between the 16th of April and the 3d June.

[Footnote 30:  We have no account of the loss of any of the squadron, except that the Elizabeth was lost sight of after passing the Straits of Magellan.  Perhaps the other vessels had been destroyed, to reinforce the crew of the Hind, weakened by the diseases incident to long voyages.—­E.]

On the 5th June, being in lat. 43 deg.  N. they found the air excessively cold, and the severity of the weather almost intolerable; for which reason they returned along the coast to the southward, till in lat. 38 deg.  N. where they found a very good bay, which they entered with a favourable wind.[31] The English had here a good deal of intercourse with the natives, whose huts were scattered along the shores of this bay.  These people brought presents of leathers and net-work to the admiral, who entertained them with so much kindness, that they were infinitely pleased.  Though the country is very cold, the natives contrive to erect their houses in a very ingenious manner to defend themselves from the severity of the weather.  Surrounding them by a deep trench, they raise great pieces of timber on its outer edge, which close all in a point at the top, like the spire of a steeple.  Their fire is in the middle of this conical hut, and they sleep on the ground strewed with rushes, around the fire.  The men go naked, but the women wear a kind of petticoat of bull-rushes, dressed in the manner of hemp, which is fastened round their waists, and reaches down to their hips; having likewise a deer-skin on their shoulders.  The good qualities of these women make amends for their ordinary dress and figure, as they are very dutiful to their husbands.

[Footnote 31:  This bay of Sir Francis Drake, on the western coast of North America, is nearly in lat 58 deg.  N. as stated in the text, and long. 122 deg. 15’ W. from Greenwich.  It is now named by the Spaniards, the Bay of San Francisco in California, on the southern side of which they have a mission of the same name—­E.]