CHAPTER IV.

Circumnavigations and Discoveries of the Seventeenth Century.

Voyage of Quiros-La Sagitaria-Australia del Espiritu Santo— Luis Vaez de Torres discovers the Strait between New Holland and New Guinea-Circumnavigation of Spilbergen-Of Schouten and Le Maire-Discovery of Staten Land and Cape HornCocos, Good Hope, and Horn Islands-New Ireland-Expedition of the Nodals-Discovery of New Holland by Dirck Hatichs—Circumnavigation of the Nassau Fleet-Voyage of Tasman-Discovery of Van Diemen's Land, of New Zealand, and the Friendly Islands-Voyages of Hendrick Brower and La Roche-Expeditions of the Buccaneers-Discovery of Davis' or Easter Island— Voyage of Strong, and Discovery of Falkland Sound-Retrospect.

THERE had long been an abatement in the ardour of that passion for adventure which formerly inflamed the hearts of the Spanish nation, afforded to her chivalrous youth so many harvests of gain, and extended her sceptre over regions of great extent, wealth, and beauty. Avarice had become sated with the gold already obtained, or, chilled by the frequent disappointment of its eager hopes, had become suspicious and distrustful of future promises. Enthusiasm had been quenched by the misfortunes of those whose beginning had been the most prosperous and seemed most certain of success. Religious zeal had found, in the lands already explored, ampler bounds than it could occupy. National policy required rather the permanent security and improvement of conquered countries, than a search after new regions. There

had even arisen a superstitious feeling against the discovery of the South Sea, as if it had been an impious intrusion into the secrets of nature. The untimely fate of all who had been principally concerned in this great event was now recollected. It was told, that Vasco Nunez had been beheaded,— that Magellan had fallen by the hands of the infidels, that his companion, the astrologer Ruy Falero, had died raving mad,—and that the seaman De Lepe, who had first descried the Strait from the topmast, had abandoned Christ to follow Mohammed. But the spirit which had glowed so long was not wholly dead, and we have yet to record the actions of one of the most distinguished navigators whom Spain has produced.

Undaunted by the hardships and ill success of the last voyage of Alvaro de Mendana, the pilot, Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, returned to Peru, eager to engage in fresh adventures, and, as one of his memorials expresses it, "to plough up the waters of the unknown sea, and to seek out the undiscovered lands around the antarctick pole-the centre of that horizon."* Arguing upon grounds which were received by many, even down to our own day, he asserted the existence of a vast southern continent, or at least of a mass of islands, the an

* Dalrymple, Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 98. The chief authorities for the voyage of Quiros are his own memorials (which are inserted in Dalrymple, vol. i. p. 145-174; and in Purchas, vol. iv. p. 1427), together with the relations of Figueroa and Torquemada (Monarchia Indiana, Seville, 1615, and Madrid, 1723), both translated by Dalrymple, vol. i. p. 95-144. In Burney's Chron. Hist. Discov. vol. ii. p. 467-478, Appendix, No. i. was printed, for the first time, the "Relation of Luis Vaez de Torres, concerning the discoveries of Quiros as his almirante. Dated Manilla, 12th July 1607;" translated by Mr Dalrymple from a Spanish MS. in his possession.

tipodes of the greater part of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The viceroy, to whom he detailed his views, heartily approved of the project; but the limits of his authority hindered him from furnishing means for its execution, and he therefore sent him to Spain with letters of recommendation to the king and his ministers. These were successful. Quiros left the court "with the most honourable schedules which had ever passed the council of state," and arriving at Lima and "throwing into oblivion all that he had endured for eleven years in the pursuit of so important an object,"* he began to prepare for his long-cherished enterprise.

Having built two vessels and a zabra (a kind of launch), the strongest and the best armed, says Torquemada, of any that had been seen on either sea, on the 21st of December 1605, he set sail from the port of Callao, having under him, as second in command, Luis Vaez de Torres.† Six Grey or Franciscan Friars accompanied the expedition; and, in conformity with their wonted respect for religion, guns were fired on the 25th during the day, and the ships were illuminated during the night, in honour of the solemn festival of the Nativity. On reaching the latitude of 26° south, Quiros considered it proper to pursue a more northerly track, in opposition to the advice of Torres, who thought that by advancing to 30° south there was greater probability of finding the desired con

*Torquemada. Dalrymple, Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 104.

+Cook, in the introduction to his second voyage, falls into the singular mistake of representing Torres as commander of the expedition, and Quiros only as pilot. Voyage towards the South Pole, and round the World, in the years 1772-1775. 3d edition. London, 1779.-Gen. Introd. p. xii.

tinent. On the 26th of January 1606, between the parallels of 24° and 25° south latitude, and 1000 leagues west from Peru, land was seen. It was a low flat island, with a sandy surface, here and there diversified by a few trees, though apparently without inhabitants, and it received the name of La Encarnacion. Three days after another island was discovered; it was "plain and even a-top," might contain about twelve leagues, and was called San Juan Bautista.* From this Quiros sailed in a north-westerly direction, and on the 4th of February saw an island or group of islands, encircled by a reef and having a lagoon in the centre. This land, which was about thirty leagues in circuit, received the name of Santelmo. next day four other islands were seen; they were barren and uninhabited, and resembled in all respects those previously discovered. They were called Los Quatros Coronadas; and two of a similar character, observed in the vicinity, were named San Miguel Archangel and Conversion de San Pablo.

The

On the 9th of February an island was seen in the north-east, and, from the circumstance of being the tenth which had met their eyes, received the appellation of La Decena. It appeared to be like those previously inspected, and the ships passed on. The next day a sailor on the topmast gave the cry of “Land a-head!" to the great joy of all on board, "It was," says Torres, "a low island, with a point to the south-east which was covered with palm-trees;”+

It may be proper here to state, that the memorial of Torres has preserved a totally different nomenclature of the lands from that given by Quiros, and that for obvious reasons we have adopted the names bestowed by the latter.

+ Burney, Chron. Hist. Discov. vol. ii. p. 468.

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and the columns of smoke which rose from different parts showed that it was inhabited. The zabra was directed to search for an anchorage, and having found it in ten fathoms the boats were sent to effect a landing. About 100 Indians were seen upon the beach making signs of joy; but so great was the surf which broke upon the rocks, that the crews, with heavy hearts, abandoned their intention of landing and resolved to row back to the ships. They were thus returning quite disconsolate," says Torquemada, "when a brave-spirited young man, Francisco Ponce, a native of Triana, slighting the danger, got up, saying, that if they should thus turn their faces from the first perils which their fate presented, what hope could there be of success in the event?" and with this threw himself into the sea and swam ashore. The islanders welcomed him with much apparent affection, frequently kissing his forehead, and, encouraged by the example now set them, some others leapt into the sea and swam to land. The natives were in colour mulattoes, well limbed, and of good carriage; they were naked, and armed, some with lances of thick wood, burnt at the ends and about twenty-seven palms in length, some with swords of the wood of the palm-tree, and not a few with great clubs. They lived in thatched houses, situated by the margin of the sea among groves of palms. A person who appeared to be a chief had on his head a kind of crown made of small black feathers, but so fine and soft that they looked like silk. In one of the woods was discovered what seemed to be an altar, rudely formed of stones; and " our people,” says the Spanish chronicler, "solicitous where the Prince of Darkness had dwelt to place the royal