CHAPTER XXIV

Summary

On the 25th of the same month of June we arrived at the island of St. Helena, where we found no ships, but only some letters in the chapel, left by the three other carracks that had passed there in company. We also found some letters left by a caravel sent by the King of Spain to get news of us; having given up hope of our coming, she had gone home.

On landing, I was astonished to find in what state the chapel was, for when I passed there on my way to the Indies, as I have related above, this chapel was adorned with a fair altar and handsome images and pictures, while above in front was a fine large cross of freestone, white as marble and well carved, which the Portuguese had brought from Portugal. Now on my return all had been broken by the Hollanders, who touch there frequently, because the Portuguese used to take away all the drawings, letters, and writings that the Hollanders had left there, on which account the latter left a note for the Portuguese to this effect: “Leave our drawings, writings, and notes, and we will leave yours”; but the Portuguese consented not thereto, and so, out of the hatred these nations have for one another, everything is broken and spoiled, and even the greater part of the trees have not been spared.