the most important that could be made for the welfare of your crown, and
that its most speedy and faithful execution should be carried out with
the same fervour and zeal as was shown at the commencement by your most
Christian predecessors the Catholic kings, who frequently declared that,
when other means failed, they themselves would go forth to carry it into
effect. By this means will Your Majesty return to find the road which
they followed, and by which they brought their kingdom to so great a
height of prosperity, from which exalted height it has, through the loss
of time and through repeated blunders and hindrances, continued falling,
until we have reached such a point that the most inconsiderable nations
of Europe, whom we formerly held beneath our feet, now look upon us as
an oppressed and afflicted nation and of small account, which is a
horrible fact, and an easily recognizable effect of the divine
indignation for the aforesaid cause, and there is no one who correctly
reasons upon this subject but will come to the same conclusion.
Let me also invite Your Majesty’s attention to the words of the Apostle
in the passage quoted above: “How shall they believe in Him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how
shall they preach except they be sent?” And let Your Majesty take into
account that the Apostle is speaking with Your Majesty yourself, and
with your kingdoms, with reference to this very point, in as much as the
charge has been given for preaching to the entire southern hemisphere,
and especially to that which lies in the Pacific Ocean, and without
allowing that any other Christian prince should go or send preachers
hither.[12] If Your Majesty do not send them, how shall they have any
knowledge of their Redeemer and be converted to Him? And as the charge
was given that these gentiles were to be converted, Your Majesty and
your Crown will be principally responsible for their conversion, for you
will be the immediate cause of that infinite number of gentiles not
hearing the word of the gospel or knowing their Redeemer; for as they
should know Him, who is it that, if preachers are not sent, has the
guilt of not sending them, and not allowing others to send them? May
Your Majesty ponder much upon this matter, for it touches nothing less
than your salvation and the final loss of your crown, if we do not
perfectly discharge this most righteous duty, and acquit this most heavy
debt to our Lord and Redeemer, by sending, as speedily as possible to
the southern hemisphere, a sufficient number of preachers of the gospel.
May Your Majesty give no heed to the plausible arguments which some may
perhaps advance, with some show of political consideration, that Your
Majesty is not in a condition to undertake the conquest of new kingdoms
of such great extent and so far off, but will have enough to do to keep
those which you already have. There will also not be wanting men learned
in the scriptures, who will prove from them that Your Majesty may
disregard the fulfilment of an obligation so distinct, and may withdraw
from the contract you have made with the Redeemer, through the medium of
His vicar and the head of His Church. May Your Majesty give no heed to
this, but abominate it as mischievous to your greatness, your
conscience, and to your crown. For this conquest is to be a spiritual
and evangelical one, and by no means entailing, as is supposed, any
considerable expense upon Your Majesty, nor a matter which can divert
you from walking conformably to the dictates of the Apostle. But rather,
in order to secure Your Majesty the restoration and increase of your
royal power to the extent of your desires, may Your Majesty give the
attention of your exalted understanding to the words of the Apostle to
his disciple Timothy, as if he had addressed them personally to Your
Majesty: “For the time will come (please God that it may not be that in
which we live) when they who are under an obligation to follow sound
doctrine so important as this, not only do not receive it, but cannot
endure it, heaping up to themselves the opinions of men with the title
of teachers, who thereby only flatter them and conform to their wishes,
turning away their ears from the truth and changing it into fables.” For
such are the superficial arguments of expediency for reasons of state
which are advanced in opposition to the extension of the Catholic Church
and the increase of our holy faith. The Apostle then says, and we may
reasonably understand him as on the present occasion addressing himself
to Your Majesty: “But do thou (who, as sovereign prince of this Catholic
monarchy, and as having made a contract with the King of kings, art
pledged by promise to the completing of the preaching of the gospel),
abominating those who shall propose to thee the contrary, watch day and
night over the fulfilment of this glorious and important obligation,
labour as much as lieth in you that it may by all possible means be
accomplished, do the work of an evangelist; for as the evangelists wrote
the gospel in order that thou mightest cause it to be preached to the
gentiles, do thou after thy manner perform the same office which they
performed in preaching. Placing great value on the fact that the
Redeemer would not entrust the charge to any other prince but to thy
illustrious house, do thou give all thy strength to the full and perfect
completion of this grand and exalted ministry, so that no gap be left.”
By so doing Your Majesty will be able to say at the day of account, that
which immediately afterwards is said by the Apostle: “Bonum certamen
certavi, cursum consummavi, fidem servavi; in reliquo reposita est mihi
corona justitiæ, quam reddet mihi Dominus in illa die justus judex, non
solum autem mihi, sed his qui diligunt adventum ejus.” I have fought the
good fight gloriously, overcoming the greater power of Lucifer,
liberating from his tyrannical and abominable servitude so great a
number of millions of souls in the southern hemisphere, which would have
been lost and would have lost the Redeemer, who laid upon me the charge
of this great and heroic deed; I have finished most faithfully my
course; I have kept His faith pure in this Catholic seminary of my
kingdom, and have transplanted it with the same purity into the hearts
of the infinite number of gentiles which dwell in that spacious fold;
and thus may I justly hope from the hand of the King Eternal, in the
great day of the universal account, the glorious and blessed crown of
righteousness (which the Apostle hoped for himself) from having rendered
this service, the most acceptable which any king or prince of the world
shall have rendered to the Divine Majesty. The same Apostle afterwards
goes on to say, that not only would it be given to him, but to all those
that love the coming of the just Judge, which are those who hold in such
account the fulfilment of their obligations, and especially of so
heavenly an one as this, that they may justly hope for the reward of
that unspeakably glorious crown. Your Majesty may also entertain a like
security of hope that, if the present proposition and prayer be accepted
and undertaken with the earnest promptitude which, as has been shown, is
enjoined upon you, there will be added to your present enjoyment of
these Catholic kingdoms, and of the other possessions of your monarchy,
every possible exaltation and aggrandisement, which is the most
affectionate desire of Your Majesty’s faithful subjects and servants.
RELATION OF LUIS VAEZ DE TORRES, CONCERNING THE DISCOVERIES OF QUIROS,
AS HIS ALMIRANTE. DATED MANILA, JULY 12th, 1607.
A TRANSLATION, NEARLY LITERAL, BY ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE, ESQ., FROM A
SPANISH MANUSCRIPT COPY IN HIS POSSESSION.
[First printed in Burney’s _Discoveries in the South Sea_. Part 2, p.
467. London, 1806. 4to.]
Being in this city of Manila, at the end of a year and a half of
navigation and making discovery of the lands and seas in the southern
parts; and seeing that the Royal Audience of Manila have not hitherto
thought proper to give me dispatches for completing the voyage as Your
Majesty commanded, and as I was in hopes of being the first to give
yourself a relation of the discovery, etc.; but being detained here, and
not knowing if, in this city of Manila, I shall receive my dispatches, I
have thought proper to send Your Majesty Fray Juan de Merlo, of the
order of San Francisco, one of the three religious who were on board
with me, who having been an eye-witness, will give a full relation to
Your Majesty. The account from me is the following.
We sailed from Callao, in Peru, December 21st, 1605, with two ships and
a launch, under the command of Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, and I
for his almirante; and without losing company, we stood W.S.W., and went
on this course 800 leagues.
In latitude 26° S., it appeared proper to our commander not to pass that
latitude, because of changes in the weather: on which account I gave a
declaration under my hand that it was not a thing obvious that we ought
to diminish our latitude, if the season would allow, till we got beyond
30 degrees. My opinion had no effect; for from the said 26 v., we
decreased our latitude in a W.N.W. course to 24½v. In this situation we
found a small low island, about two leagues long, uninhabited and
without anchoring ground.
From hence we sailed W. by N. to 24° S. In this situation we found
another island, uninhabited, and without anchorage. It was about ten
leagues in circumference. We named it San Valerio.
From hence we sailed W. by N. one day, and then W.N.W. to 21⅓° S., where
we found another small low island without soundings, uninhabited, and
divided into pieces.
We passed on in the same course, and sailed twenty-five leagues: we
found four islands in a triangle, five or six leagues each; low,
uninhabited, and without soundings. We named them las Virgines (the
Virgins). Here the variation was north-easterly.
From hence we sailed N.W. to 19° S. In this situation we saw a small
island to the eastward, about three leagues distant. It appeared like
those we had passed. We named it Sta. Polonia.
Diminishing our latitude from hence half a degree, we saw a low island,
with a point to the S.E., full of palms: it is in 18½° S. We arrived at
it. It had no anchorage. We saw people on the beach: the boats went to
the shore, and when they reached it, they could not land on account of
the great surf and rocks. The Indians called to them from the land: two
Spaniards swam ashore: these they received well, throwing their arms
upon the ground, and embraced them and kissed them in the face. On this
friendship, a chief among them came on board the _Capitana_ to converse,
and an old woman; who were cloathed, and other presents were made to
them, and they returned ashore presently, for they were in great fear.
In return for these good offices they sent a heap, or locks of hair, and
some bad feathers, and some wrought pearl oyster shells: these were all
their valuables. They were a savage people, mulattoes, and corpulent:
the arms they use are lances, very long and thick. As we could not land
nor get anchoring ground, we passed on, steering W.N.W.
We went in this direction from that island, getting sight of land. We
could not reach it from the first, on account of the wind being contrary
and strong with much rain: it was all of it very low, so as in parts to
be overflowed.
From this place in 16½° S., we stood N.W. by N. to 10¾° S. In this
situation we saw an island, which was supposed to be that of San
Bernardo, because it was in pieces: but it was not San Bernardo, from
what we afterwards saw. We did not find anchoring ground at it, though
the boats went on shore to search for water, which we were in want of,
but could not find any: they only found some cocoa-nut trees, though
small. Our commander seeing we wanted water, agreed that we should go to
the island Santa Cruz, where he had been with the adelantado Alvaro de
Mendana, saying we might there supply ourselves with water and wood, and
then he would determine what was most expedient for Your Majesty’s
service. The crew of the _Capitana_ at this time were mutinous,
designing to go directly to Manila: on this account he sent the chief
pilot a prisoner on board my ship, without doing anything farther to him
or others, though I strongly importuned him to punish them, or give me
leave to punish them; but he did not choose to do it, from whence
succeeded what Your Majesty knows, since they made him turn from the
course [voyage], as will be mentioned, and he has probably said at Your
Majesty’s court.
We sailed from the above island W. by N., and found nearly a point
easterly variation. We continued this course till in full 10° S.
latitude. In this situation we found a low island of five or six
leagues, overflowed and without soundings: it was inhabited, the people
and arms like those we had left, but their vessels were different. They
came close to the ship, talking to us and taking what we gave them,
begging more, and stealing what was hanging to the ship, throwing
lances, thinking we could not do them any harm. Seeing we could not
anchor, on account of the want we were in of water, our commander
ordered me ashore with two boats and fifty men. As soon as we came to
the shore they opposed my entrance, without any longer keeping peace,
which obliged me to skirmish with them. When we had done them some
mischief, three of them came out to make peace with me, singing, with
branches in their hands, and one with a lighted torch and on his knees.
We received them well and embraced them, and then cloathed them, for
they were some of the chiefs; and asking them for water they did not
choose to shew it me, making signs as if they did not understand me.
Keeping the three chiefs with me, I ordered the sergeant, with twelve
men, to search for water, and having fallen in with it, the Indians came
out on their flank and attacked them, wounding one Spaniard. Seeing
their treachery they were attacked and defeated, without other harm
whatever. The land being in my power, I went over the town without
finding anything but dried oysters and fish, and many cocoa-nuts, with
which the land was well provided. We found no birds nor animals, except
little dogs. They have many covered embarcations, with which they are
accustomed to navigate to other islands, with latine sails made
curiously of mats; and of the same cloth their women are cloathed with
little shifts and petticoats, and the men only round their waists and
hips. From hence we put off with the boats loaded with water, but by the
great swell we were overset with much risk of our lives, and so we were
obliged to go on without getting water at this island. We named it
Matanza.
We sailed in this parallel thirty-two days. In all this route we had
very strong currents, and many drifts of wood and snakes, and many
birds, all which were signs of land on both sides of us. We did not
search for it, that we might not leave the latitude of the island of
Santa Cruz, for we always supposed ourselves near it; and with reason,
if it had been where the first voyage when it was discovered had
represented; but it was much further on, as by the account will be seen.
So that about sixty leagues before reaching it, and 1940 from the city
of Lima, we found a small island of six leagues, very high, and all
round it very good soundings; and other small islands near it, under
shelter of which the ships anchored. I went with the two boats and fifty
men to reconnoitre the people of this island; and at the distance of a
musket shot separate from the island, we found a town surrounded with a
wall, with only one entrance, without a gate. Being near with the two
boats with an intention of investing them, as they did not by signs
choose peace, at length their chief came into the water up to his neck,
with a staff in his hand, and without fear came directly to the boats;
where he was very well received, and by signs which we very well
understood, he told me that his people were in great terror of the
muskets, and therefore he entreated us not to land, and said that they
would bring water and wood if we gave them vessels. I told him that it
was necessary to remain five days on shore to refresh. Seeing he could
not do more with me he quieted his people, who were very uneasy and
turbulent, and so it happened that no hostility was committed on either
side. We went into the fort very safely; and having halted, I made them
give up their arms, and made them bring from their houses their effects,
which were not of any value, and go with them to the island to other
towns. They thanked me very much: the chief always continued with me.
They then told me the name of the country: all came to me to make peace,
and the chiefs assisted me, making their people get water and wood and
carry it on board the ships. In this we spent six days.
The people of this island are of an agreeable conversation,
understanding us very well, desirous of learning our language and to
teach us theirs. They are great cruizers: they have much beard; they are
great archers and hurlers of darts; the vessels in which they sail are
large, and can go a great way. They informed us of more than forty
islands, great and small, all peopled, naming them by their names, and
telling us that they were at war with many of them. They also gave us
intelligence of the island Santa Cruz, and of what had happened when the
adelantado was there.
The people of this island are of ordinary stature: they have amongst
them people white and red, some in colour like those of the Indies,
others woolly-headed blacks and mulattoes. Slavery is in use amongst
them. Their food is yams, fish, cocoa-nuts, and they have hogs and
fowls.
This island is named Taomaco, and the name of the chief is Tomai. We
departed from hence with four Indians whom we took, at which they were
not much pleased: and as we here got wood and water, there was no
necessity for us to go to the Island Santa Cruz, which, as I have said,
is in this parallel sixty leagues farther on.
So we sailed from hence, steering S.S.E. to 12½° S. latitude, where we
found an island like that of Taomaco, and with the same kind of people,
named Chucupia: there is only one small anchoring place; and passing in
the offing, a small canoe with only two men came to me to make peace,
and presented me some bark of a tree, which appeared like a very fine
handkerchief, four yards long and three palms wide: on this I parted
from them.
From hence we steered south. We had a hard gale of wind from the north,
which obliged us to lye to for two days: at the end of that time it was
thought, as it was winter, that we could not exceed the latitude of 14°
S., in which we were, though my opinion was always directly contrary,
thinking we should search for the islands named by the Indians of
Taomaco. Wherefore sailing from this place we steered west, and in one
day’s sail we discovered a volcano, very high and large, above three
leagues in circuit, full of trees, and of black people with much beard.
To the westward, and in sight of this volcano, was an island, not very
high and pleasant in appearance. There are few anchoring places, and
those very close to the shore: it was very full of black people. Here we
caught two in some canoes, whom we cloathed and gave them presents, and
the next day we put them ashore. In return for this they shot a flight
of arrows at a Spaniard, though in truth it was not in the same port,
but about a musket shot farther on. They are, however, a people that
never miss an opportunity of doing mischief.
In sight of this island and around it are many islands, very high and
large, and to the southward one so large that we stood for it, naming
the island where our man was wounded Santa Maria.
Sailing thence to the southward towards the large island, we discovered
a very large bay, well peopled, and very fertile in yams and fruits,
hogs and fowls. They are all black people and naked. They fight with
bows, darts and clubs. They did not choose to have peace with us, though
we frequently spoke to them and made presents; and they never, with
their goodwill, let us set foot on shore.
This bay is very refreshing, and in it fall many and large rivers. It is
in 15⅔° S. latitude, and in circuit it is twenty-five leagues. We named
it the bay de San Felipe y Santiago, and the land del Espiritu Santo.
There we remained fifty days:[13] we took possession in the name of Your
Majesty. From within this bay, and from the most sheltered part of it,
the _Capitana_ departed at one hour past midnight, without any notice
given to us, and without making any signal. This happened the 11th of
June. And although the next morning we went out to seek for them, and
made all proper efforts, it was not possible for us to find them; for
they did not sail on the proper course, nor with good intention. So I
was obliged to return to the bay, to see if by chance they had returned
thither. And on the same account we remained in this bay fifteen days;
at the end of which we took Your Majesty’s orders, and held a
consultation with the officers of the frigate. It was determined that we
should fulfil them, although contrary to the inclination of many, I may
say, of the greater part; but my condition was different from that of
Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros.
At length we sailed from this bay, in conformity to the order, although
with intention to sail round this island, but the season and the strong
currents would not allow this, although I ran along a great part of it.
In what I saw, there are very large mountains. It has many ports, though
some of them are small. All of it is well watered with rivers. We had at
this time nothing but bread and water: it was the height of winter, with
sea, wind, and ill will [of his crew] against us. All this did not
prevent me from reaching the mentioned latitude, which I passed one
degree, and would have gone farther if the weather had permitted; for
the ship was good. It was proper to act in this manner, for these are
not voyages performed every day, nor could Your Majesty otherwise be
properly informed. Going into the said latitude on a S.W. course, we had
no signs of land that way.
From hence I stood back to the N.W. to 11½° S. latitude: there we fell
in with the beginning of New Guinea, the coast of which runs W. by N.
and E. by S. I could not weather the east point, so I coasted along to
the westward on the south side.
All this land of New Guinea is peopled with Indians, not very white, and
naked, except their waists, which are covered with a cloth made of the
bark of trees, and much painted. They fight with darts, targets, and
some stone clubs, which are made fine with plumage. Along the coast are
many islands and habitations. All the coast has many ports, very large,
with very large rivers, and many plains. Without these islands there
runs a reef of shoals, and between them [the shoals] and the main land
are the islands. There is a channel within. In these ports I took
possession for Your Majesty.
We went along three hundred leagues of coast, as I have mentioned, and
diminished the latitude 2½°, which brought us into 9°. From hence we
fell in with a bank of from three to nine fathoms, which extends along
the coast above 180 leagues. We went over it along the coast to 7½° S.
latitude, and the end of it is in 5°. We could not go farther on for the
many shoals and great currents, so we were obliged to sail out S.W. in
that depth to 11° S. latitude. There is all over it an archipelago of
islands without number, by which we passed, and at the end of the
eleventh degree the bank became shoaler. Here were very large islands,
and there appeared more to the southward: they were inhabited by black
people, very corpulent, and naked: their arms were lances, arrows, and
clubs of stone ill-fashioned. We could not get any of their arms. We
caught in all this land twenty persons of different nations, that with
them we might be able to give a better account to Your Majesty. They
give much notice of other people, although as yet they do not make
themselves well understood.