back, the crew were made prisoners by the Portuguese, whose jealousy of Spanish enterprise in these parts was now violently inflamed by the late transactions at the Moluccas.

The voyage of Magellan was attended by the most important results; it effected the communication so long desired between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, and removed the barriers which had hitherto obstructed European navigation in the latter sea. It opened a new path to the riches of India and the spices of the contiguous islands; and in fact achieved what Columbus and his companions had so long endeavoured to accomplish. It ascertained the southern boundary of the American continent, and the extent of the great sea which divides Asia from that portion of the globe. In its progress he discovered the Unfortunate Islands, the islands Saypan, Tinian, and Aguigan, four others of the group of the Ladrones, and the Philippines or Archipelago of St Lazarus. He also demonstrated the spherical form of the earth beyond the possibility of doubt; and accomplished what had baffled, even on the threshold, every previous navigator.

CHAPTER III.

Discoveries and Circumnavigations from Magellan to the End of the Sixteenth Century.

Expedition of Loyasa-Discovery of Papua or New Guinea Voyage of Saavedra-Of Villalobos-Of Legaspi Of Juan Fernandez-Expedition of Mendana, and Discovery of the Solomon Islands-John Oxenham, the first Englishman that sailed on the Pacific-Circumnavigation of Sir Francis Drake-Expedition of Sarmiento-Circumnavigation of Cavendish-His Second Voy

age

-The Falkland Islands discovered - Expedition of Sir Richard Hawkins-Second Voyage of Mendana-The Marquesas-Santa Cruz-Expedition of five Dutch Vessels-Circumnavigation of Van Noort-Retrospect.

ALL the seas and lands discovered by Magellan were declared by Spain to be her exclusive possession,an assumption which the other European States, especially Portugal, were unwilling to acknowledge. The privilege of sailing by this track to the Moluccas, as well as those islands themselves, the principal advantages gained by the recent discoveries, were claimed on the double title of the papal grant and the alleged cession by the native princes. But John III. the Portuguese monarch, was equally tenacious of his rights. The old dispute as to the boundary and partition line was renewed, and referred to a convocation of learned cosmographers and skilful pilots, who met near Badajos, and parted as they met; the commissioners of both crowns being alike obstinate in their claims.

The respective governments were thus left to establish their rival pretensions as they should find most convenient; and Spain, accordingly, lost no time in fitting out an expedition to secure the full benefit of Magellan's labours.

This armament consisted of seven vessels, of which Garcia Jofre de Loyasa, a knight of St John, was appointed captain-general; Sebastian del Cano and other survivors of the former enterprise going out under his command. The squadron sailed from Corunna on the 24th July 1525. Every precaution having been taken to ensure the success of the voyage, the fleet at first proceeded prosperously. But accidents soon occurred, and to the still imperfect state of nautical science we must impute many of the subsequent disasters of Loyasa. The captain-general was separated from the other ships; the strait so lately discovered had already become uncertain; Sebastian del Cano's vessel was wrecked near Cape de las Virgines; the others were injured; one of them was forced to the southward,* and two, after suffering much damage, appear to have been conducted back to Spain. In short, it was April before they entered the sound; the passage proving tedious and dismal, and the crew having suffered much from the extreme cold. Few natives were seen, and those who

The Spaniards claim an important discovery in consequence of this accidental circumstance. The San Lesmes, a bark commanded by Francisco de Hozes, is reported to have been driven to 55° south in the gale, and the captain affirmed that he had seen the end of Tierra del Fuego. This a Spanish writer supposes to have been Cape Horn; while Burney thinks it more probable that it was Staten Land, the certain discovery of which is, however, of much later date. The extent of projecting land between the eastern entrance to the strait and Cape Horn makes it unlikely that it could have been seen by the crew of the San Lesmes.-Chron. Hist. of Discov. in South Sea, vol, i, p. 134.

appeared showed signs of a hostile disposition, probably from recollecting how their confidence was abused by their former visiters. On the 26th May, the fleet reached the South Sea, but was almost immediately dispersed in a storm. Two of the vessels steered for New Spain, and in their course endured much from want of provisions; the sailors having little else to subsist on than the birds which they caught in the rigging. Of the two remaining ships, one ran aground at the island of Sanghir, after the crew had mutinied and thrown overboard the captain, his brother, and the pilot; while the other, which carried the admiral and his second in command, held north-west. Both these officers were now sick; and, four days after crossing the line, being the 30th of July 1526, Loyasa died, and Del Cano, who had weathered so many dangers, expired in less than a week. Alonzo de Salazar, who succeeded to the charge, steered for the Ladrones, and, in 14° north, discovered the island which he named San Bartolome, the native appellation of which has been lately ascertained to be Poulousouk.* Between Magellan's Strait and the latitude now specified, thirtyeight of the seamen perished, and the survivors were so enfeebled that they thought proper to entrap eleven Indians to work the pumps. Salazar, the third commander, died; and it was November before they came to anchor at Zamafo, a port in an island belonging to their ally the King of Tidore. On reaching the Moluccas, disputes immediately arose between the Spaniards and the Portuguese governor settled at Ternate; and a petty maritime

* Voyage autour du Monde, par M. L. de Freycinet. Historique, tome ii. pp. 69, 70.

warfare ensued, which was prosecuted several years with various degrees of activity and success,-the people of Tidore supporting their former friends, while those of Ternate espoused the cause of their rivals.

In the course of this year, 1526, Papua was discovered by Don Jorge de Meneses, in his passage from Malacca to the Spice Islands, of which he had been appointed governor by the court of Portugal. About the same period, Diego da Rocha made himself acquainted with the islands De Sequeira; believed to be a part of those which in modern times bear the name of Pelew, and belong to the extensive archipelago of the Carolines.* In the course of the following summer, the fourth captain-general of Loyasa's squadron died, as was alleged, by poison administered at the instigation of the Portuguese governor; and shortly afterwards, his ship, which had been much damaged by repeated actions, was declared unfit for the homeward voyage.

In the same season, the celebrated Hernan Cortes equipped three vessels for the Spice Isles, which sailed from New Spain on the eve of All Saints under the command of his kinsman Alvaro de Saavedra. Two of them were almost immediately separated from the admiral, who, pursuing his course alone, after leaving the Ladrones, discovered on Twelfth Day a cluster of islands, to which, from this circumstance, he gave the name of Los Reyes, or The Kings. The men were naked, save a

* "Les îles qu'il [Diego da Rocha] nomma Sequeira, ne paroissent être autres, en effet, que les Matelotas, situées dans l'E. N. E. des Palaos."-Freycinet, in op. cit., tome ii. p. 76.

+They are included in the Caroline range, and are supposed to be identical with the Egoi Islands of the present maps.-Freycinet, tome ii. p. 76.