` After the storm we saw a mountain whose top was covered with snow and pierced the clouds . The grasses under this mountain , boiled and eaten , are a good cure for soreness of the gums and swelled ankles . We lay there eight days , till men in skins threw stones at us . When the heat increased Witta spread a cloth on bent sticks above the rowers , for the wind failed between the Island of the Mountain and the shore of Africa , which is east of it . That shore is sandy , and we rowed along it within three bowshots . Here we saw whales , and fish in the shape of shields , but longer than our ship . Some slept , some opened their mouths at us , and some danced on the hot waters . The water was hot to the hand , and the sky was hidden by hot , grey mists , out of which blew a fine dust that whitened our hair and beards of a morning . Here , too , were fish that flew in the air like birds . They would fall on the laps of the rowers , and when we went ashore we would roast and eat them . ' The knight paused to see if the children doubted him , but they only nodded and said , ` Go on . ' ` The yellow land lay on our left , the grey sea on our right . Knight though I was , I pulled my oar amongst the rowers . I caught seaweed and dried it , and stuffed it between the pots of beads lest they should break . Knighthood is for the land . At sea , look you , a man is but a spurless rider on a bridleless horse . I learned to make strong knots in ropes -- yes , and to join two ropes end to end , so that even Witta could scarcely see where they had been married . But Hugh had tenfold more sea-cunning than I. Witta gave him charge of the rowers of the left side . Thorkild of Borkum , a man with a broken nose , that wore a Norman steel cap , had the rowers of the right , and each side rowed and sang against the other . They saw that no man was idle .
Truly , as XXXXX said , and Witta would laugh at him , a ship is all more care than a Manor .
Africa Hugh Knighthood bowshots left morning oar rowers storm whales