Part 5 (2/2)
They began at once to build a brigantine which had been taken out in pieces; in fifty-four days it was put together with the help of fresh timber obtained on the island.
Sarmiento then conducted a reconnoitering expedition inland, but met with hostility from the natives.
In the meanwhile, Gallego and Ortega, the camp-master, examined the coast on board the brigantine and discovered several other islands.*
[* Very little gold, if any, was found in the Solomon group.]
An expedition in search of the Great Southern Continent, or _Java Maior_, was also projected with the brigantine, but soon abandoned, as they found the little s.h.i.+p unsuitable for open sea work.
All the islands discovered were supposed to belong to the outlying islands situated to the east of New Guinea, and the inference, as we know, was not, far from the truth; it led, however, to a curious mistake, which I shall explain when describing the earliest map of the Solomon Islands, towards the end of next chapter.
In May, the expedition left _Santa Ysabel_, and after sighting many more islands of the group, they cast anchor off the coast of a large island which Gallego named _Guadalca.n.a.l_, after his own native place near Seville.
On the 19th and 22nd, Sarmiento and Mendana, accompanied by Ortega, made excursions into the interior, ascending a high mountain and enjoying a magnificent panorama. Afterwards a boat's crew was ma.s.sacred by the natives, and Sarmiento was obliged to make severe reprisals.
In August, the expedition removed to another island which was named _San Christobal_, where they remained for forty days, refitting and taking in supplies, and here the brigantine, which had done such good service in exploring the shallow coasts, was abandoned.
Sarmiento now desired to return by way of the islands discovered by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, and submitted a report to that effect on September the 4th, 1568.
But Mendana insisted upon steering east, and notwithstanding the remonstrances of many, he shaped a course for New Spain.
On the 23rd of January, 1569, they reached the port of Santiago de Colima, refitted at Realejo, and returned to Callao on September 2, after an absence of 19 months.
During the voyage there had been many disagreements, and Mendana intended to bring charges against Sarmiento when he arrived at Lima.
As little justice could be expected from the uncle in adjudicating on his nephew's conduct, Sarmiento considered it to be the wisest course to leave the s.h.i.+p at Realejo, and wait at Guatemala until Lope Garcia de Castro should be relieved of his command.
CHAPTER X.
MENDANA IN SEARCH OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.
Twenty-six years had elapsed since the Sarmiento-Mendana voyage, and now Mendana was sent out again with instructions to found a colony at the island of _San Christobal_, in the Solomon Group; and from thence to make another attempt to discover the Great Southern Continent, the Java Maior, that formed such a conspicuous feature on the maps of the period, and was beginning to attract the attention of other countries besides Spain.
Mendana's fleet was composed of three large vessels and a frigate.
Pedro Fernandez de Queiroz was his captain and chief pilot; the other officers were Lope de Vega, Felipe Corzo, and Alenzo de Leyva.
As it was intended to settle a colony, many took their wives with them, and amongst these were: Da. Isabel de Barreto, Mendana's wife, and Da.
Mariana de Castro, the wife of Lope de Vega.
They set sail from Callao on the 9th of April, 1595, and, after discovering the Marquesas, and a few smaller islands, they sighted land on September the 7th, which Mendana believed, at first, to be the Solomons, of which he was in quest.
They soon found out their mistake, and named the island _Santa Cruz_. To the northward of this island was seen a most remarkable volcano in full eruption.* The frigate was ordered to sail round it to search for Lope de Vega's s.h.i.+p, which had parted company some time previously.
[* Tinacula Volcano, in eruption at the present day.]
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