“It was on a dark and stormy night in the year 1510.  A group of swarthy and naked savages encircled a small fire on the edge of the forest on the east coast of Brazil.  The spot where their watchfire was kindled is now covered by the flourishing city of Bahia.  At that time it was a wilderness.  Before them stretched the noble bay which is now termed Bahia de Todos Santos,—­All Saints’ Bay.

“The savages talked earnestly and with excited looks as they stood upon the shore, for the memory of the wondrous ships of the white men that had visited them a few years before was deeply engraven on their minds; and now, in the midst of the howling storm, another ship was seen approaching their land.  It was a small vessel, shattered and tempest-tossed, that drove into the Bahia de Todos Santos on that stormy night.  Long had it battled with the waves of the Atlantic, and the brave hearts that manned it had remained stanch to duty and strong in hope, remembering the recent glorious example of Columbus.  But the storm was fierce and the bark was frail.  The top-masts were broken and the sails rent; and worst of all, just as land hove in sight and cheered the drooping spirits of the crew, a tremendous wave dashed upon the ship’s stern and carried away the rudder.

“As they drove helplessly before the gale towards the shore, the naked savages crowded down upon the beach and gazed in awe and astonishment at the mysterious ship.  A few of them had seen the vessels of Americus Vespucius and Cabral.  The rumour of the white men and their floating castle had been wafted far and wide along the coast and into the interior of Brazil, and with breathless wonder the natives had listened to the strange account.  But now the vision was before them in reality.  On came the floating castle, the white foam dashing from her bows and the torn sails and ropes flying from her masts as she surged over the billows and loomed through the driving spray.

“It was a grand sight to see that ship dashing straight towards the shore at fearful speed; and those who looked on seemed to be impressed with a vague feeling that she had power to spring upon the strand and continue her swift career through the forest, as she had hitherto cleft her passage through the sea.  As she approached, the savages shrank back in fear.  Suddenly her frame trembled with a mighty shock.  A terrible cry was borne to land by the gale, and all her masts went overboard.  A huge wave lifted the vessel on its crest and flung her further on the shore, where she remained firmly fixed, while the waves dashed in foam around her and soon began to break her up.  Ere this happened, however, a rope was thrown ashore and fastened to a rock by the natives.  By means of this the crew were saved.  But it would have been well for these bold navigators of Portugal if they had perished in the stormy sea, for they were spared by the ocean only to be murdered by the wild savages on whose shore they had been cast.