[Illustration: Sir Francis Drake.--From an old English Painting.] Upon sailing into the harbor he found a wild, desolate looking beach; but the next day Indians appeared in considerable numbers. One of them paddled out in a canoe to within hailing distance of the ship, where he made a long oration, accompanied by violent gestures, after which he returned to the shore. Approaching the ship a second time in the same manner, he brought with him a head-dress of black feathers tastefully arranged, and a small basket, neatly woven, filled with an herb called "tabah." These he delivered to the English, and with the exception of a hat could not be induced to accept any of the presents offered him in return. [Illustration: A Bay of Solitude.] All his actions, as well as of the people on shore, indicated respect and deference for the English, as if they were a superior race of beings. In the course of a few days Drake, having carefully surveyed the place, brought his ship to anchor near the shore and landed his men with arms and provisions to set up tents and build a barricade. The Indians at this collected on the neighboring hills and looked down with wonder and amazement, so much so, that the English supposed themselves taken for gods; a supposition which proved correct, for, descending, the male Indians brought ornaments, net-work, quivers, skins, etc., intended for offerings, while the women performed divers wild and violent dances, in which many of the participants were cut and wounded. [Illustration: Drake's Bay.] In order to prevent a repetition of this gruesome spectacle, Drake ordered religious services to be performed in their presence, thus indicating that they too were but creatures of a God above. After prayers, psalms were sung which especially attracted the attention of the Indians. Music was a language they could understand, being a universal language intelligible to every human heart; and they were so delighted that at every pause they testified their pleasure. [Illustration: A Bit of Rocky Shore.] The business of repairing and refitting the vessel being at length finished, the cargo re-embarked and the peaceful character of the Indians being now so well understood that no trouble from them was apprehended, Drake, with a number of his crew made a short excursion inland, which being necessarily made on foot extended but a few miles, and did not afford any wide or distant view; and the English, like the Spaniards under Cabrillo, though within less than a day's travel of the most spacious and magnificent bay in the world, had no idea of its existence. [Illustration: Marin Cows.]