He partially crossed the Isthmus of Darien, and
obtained his first sight of the great Pacific Ocean. He returned
to England in August 1573, with his frail barks crammed with
treasure.
A few years later, in 1577, he made his ever-memorable
expedition. Charnock says it was "an attempt in its nature so
bold and unprecedented, that we should scarcely know whether to
applaud it as a brave, or condemn it as a rash one, but for its
success." The squadron with which he sailed for South America
consisted of five vessels, the largest of which, the Pelican, was
only of 100 tons burthen; the next, the Elizabeth, was of 80; the
third, the Swan, a fly-boat, was of 50; the Marygold bark, of 30;
and the Christopher, a pinnace, of 15 tons. The united crews of
these vessels amounted to only 164, gentlemen and sailors.
The gentlemen went with Drake "to learn the art of navigation."
After various adventures along the South American coast, the
little fleet passed through the Straits of Magellan, and entered
the Pacific Ocean. Drake took an immense amount of booty from
the Spanish towns along the coast, and captured the royal
galleon, the Cacafuego, laden with treasure. After trying in
vain to discover a passage home by the North-eastern ocean,
though what is now known as Behring Straits, he took shelter in
Port San Francisco, which he took possession of in the name of
the Queen of England, and called New Albion.
Pages:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40