Part 7 (2/2)
Queiroz quitted this island of Taumaco on the 18th of April, and, _giving up his project of settlement at Santa Cruz_, sailed towards the south in search of the land of Mallicolo and other lands indicated by the chiefs of Taumaco.
On the 21st, in the evening, they discovered land in the S.E. They manoeuvred cautiously all night. They then sailed along the northern sh.o.r.es of what proved to be a small island. The captain of the Almiranta, Luis Vaez de Torres, went in a canoe to examine it.
He could not find an anchorage for the fleet; but he went near enough to the land to converse with the natives, who offered him a present of nuts, and a piece of stuff made of palm leaves woven together.
He learned from them that their island was caged TUCOPIA*; and they made him understand by signs that, if he sailed southwards, he would meet with extensive countries, where the inhabitants were fairer than those he had yet seen. As this island afforded no shelter from the wind, they did not remain there. In coasting along it, they perceived that it produced many fruit trees, of which they saw several plantations. They say that ”It lies in lat.i.tude 12 S.”
[* The first island arrived at by the Spaniards bearing a native name preserved to this day, and that can, therefore, be positively identified, with reference to this voyage.]
QUEIROZ'S REGION OF ESPIRITU SANTO.
As we are coming now to islands which I have positively identified,* it will be well to follow the itinerary on the maps given here.
[* See Portuguese, Spanish, and Victorian Geographical Societies'
Journals. 1903-1904.]
The fleet proceeded southwards, with variable winds, till the 25th of April, when, at day-break, a very high land was seen in the lat.i.tude of 14 (Bougainville's ”Pic de l'Etoile,” the ”Star Island” or Merlav, of modern charts.) They named it San Marcos.
From San Marcos they went on a S.W. course, with men at the mast-head; and at 10 in the forenoon, at a distance of 12 leagues to the S.E., a land of many mountains and plains was sighted, the end of which could not be seen throughout the day. Queiroz gave it the name of _Margaritana_. It is the island of the New Hebrides group which Bougainville named Aurora.
About 20 leagues to the west, an island was seen that looked so beautiful that they determined to go to it. About a third of the way they saw another island, 3 leagues off. It was flat, with a hill that looked like a rock in the distance. Two canoes under sail came from it, from which they knew that it was inhabited.
On account of its thick woods and pleasant appearance, the name of _Vergel_, or Flower-Garden, was given to it. There was little wind, and, owing to the necessary caution in navigating among unknown islands, they hove-to during the night.
To the north of Vergel island, which is the Merig Island of modern charts, they saw another large island running N.E. and S.W., and the peaks of its numerous mountains gave the captain a strong desire to go and see it; but he gave it up, owing to other things that occurred. Its lat.i.tude they found to be 13, and they named it _Las Lagrimas da San Pedro_. The Tears of St. Peter.
To the N.W. another island was seen, with a circ.u.mference of 60 leagues.
It had two high and sloping hills, one at each end. The rest was flat and of very pleasant appearance, alike from its shape and numerous trees. Its lat.i.tude they found to be less than 14. They named it _Portales de Belen_.
Upon nearing the island to the westward of San Marcos, they saw columns of smoke arising in all directions, and at night many fires. In the centre it was rather high, and thence its slopes extended in all directions to the sea, so that its form was a ma.s.sive round with only the parts towards the south, broken with ravines.
There were many palm trees, plantains, verdure, abundant water, and the land was thickly inhabited. The circ.u.mference was about 50 leagues, though some gave it much more and thought that it would support about 200,000 inhabitants. Its lat.i.tude was 14 30'. Owing to its great beauty, it was named _Virgen Maria_; it is the modern Gaua, in the Banks' group.
Four canoes with unarmed natives came to the Almiranta, and made signs to offer to take him into port. Seeing that the Spaniards did not wish it, they made presents of cocoanuts and other fruits. Having received a good return, they went back to their island. As the disposition of the natives seemed to be good, the captain sent a party in the launch and one boat, to examine the coast and find a port. The party was under the command of Pedro Lopez de Soto. They found to the S. and S.E. clean bottom at 20 fathoms or less, where the s.h.i.+ps might have anch.o.r.ed if the weather to be experienced had been known. They saw a great number of people on the island, who came out to see and call to them. They followed the boat without pa.s.sing certain boundaries, and by this they supposed that there were part.i.tions of property between the people not on good terms.
Among them there were two distinct colours. While the natives were looking at each other and talking by signs, a man rushed down from behind some rocks. He was well made, of a clear mulatto colour, the hairs of his beard and head brown and crisp, and rather long. He was robust and vigorous. With a jump he got into the boat, and, according to the signs he made, he appeared to ask: ”Where do you come from? What do you want?
What do you seek?” a.s.suming that these were the questions asked, some of the Spaniards said, ”We come from the east, we are Christians, we seek you, and we want you to be ours.”
He showed himself to be so bold, that the Spaniards understood that he wanted to make them believe that to him they were a small affair. He presently was undeceived, for he was seized and brought to the s.h.i.+p, where he came on board so fearlessly that the Spaniards had to confess that he was no coward.
The captain embraced him, and asked about the land by signs, of which he appeared to give extensive information. He pointed to several places on the horizon, counted on his fingers several times, and ended by p.r.o.nouncing several words in Spanish, thereby showing that he had come in contact with earlier Spanish navigators in those seas. The Spaniards say that it was ”very pleasant to hear him, to see how lively he was, how vigorous and agreeable in his manner; having a bright look for all, including those who importuned him with a desire for information.”
The night having come on, the launch arrived, and the pilot of her told Queiroz that they were bringing a native prisoner, secured by a hatchway chain. Soon after, however, the prisoner broke his chain; and, taking part of it and the padlock with him on one foot, he jumped overboard.
Queiroz heard this with great regret, fearing that the man had been drowned. To make sure of their first prisoner, he ordered him to be given his supper and to be put in the stocks, but on a bed where he could sleep. He also ordered that the s.h.i.+ps should go in search of the one that had escaped.
Going in search at 10 at night, the look-out man heard a voice from the water, and made out the place where the native, being tired out, was struggling with death.
<script>