rather of _Salagua_, within the Islands and Shoals of _Chamily_, 480
Leagues N. W. and by West, a little Westerly from _Raleo_. From the
Town of _Saragua_, a little East of _Chamily_ at _Saragua_, and from
_Compostilo_ in the Neighbourhood of this Port, we took in a Master and
six Mariners accustomed to trade with the Natives for Pearl the Natives
catched on a Bank in 19 Degrees of Latitude North from the _Baxos_ of
_St. Juan_ in 24 Degrees of North Latitude, 20 Leagues N. N. E. from
Cape _Saint Lucas_, the South-east Point of _California_.'
The Point of _Yeaxos_ is laid down in Lat. 11 Deg. 58 Min. Long.
93 Deg. 31 Min. and with a Course North-west and by West, a little
Westerly, Distance four Hundred and eighty Leagues, _de Fonte_ would be
at the Islands of _Chiametlas_, in Lat. 22 Deg. 10 Min. Long. 114 Deg.
29 Min.
The Port of _Saragua_, or rather of _Salagua_ (which is properly
_Zuelagua_) is thus described. 'The Mount of _Sant Jago_ is in the
Port of _Zuelagua_. There are two very good Harbours which have good
anchoring Ground, and will hold a great many Ships, by reason they are
great and are called the _Calletas_. On the North-west Side of the
said Bay is another very good Port, which is called likewise the Port
of _Zuelagua_. You will find in it a River of fresh Water, and several
Plantations. At the Sea Side is a Pathway that leads to the Town of
_Zuelagua_, being four and a half Miles from the Port within Land.
Between the Port of _Zuelagua_ and the white Ferrelon (or Rock) is a
very good Port, in which you are Land-locked from all Winds.'
From this Description it is easy to comprehend what is _de Fonte_'s
Meaning as to the Port of _Zuelagua_, where he took in his Master and
Mariners on the North-west Side of the Bay, and which he expresses by,
at _Saragua_ a little East of _Chamily_; and which Master and Mariners
were not promiscuously taken, but were chosen Men, as they were taken
both from _Zuelagua_ and _Compostilo_, in the Neighbourhood of the
Port. _Zuelagua_ seems originally the City which was called _Xalisco_;
but from its unhealthy Situation, _Compostilo_ was built more within
Land; yet the former continuing to be a Port, some Inhabitants remained
there.
The Islands and Shoals of _Chiametla_, which the Translation renders
_Chamily_, which is a Name given to Islands South of Cape _Corientes_.
But the Distinction is the Islands to Northward of Cape _Corientes_
are called _Chiametla_, those to Southward _Chametla_ and _Camilli_.
_Prieto_ agrees with _de Fonte_'s Account first mentioning the Islands of
_Chiametlas_ in Lat. 22. 10. Long. 114. 29. and then _El mal Pays y mal
outradu_.
This Master and Mariners were accustomed to trade with the Natives
for Pearl, which the Natives catched on a Bank in nineteen Degrees of
Latitude, being North from the _Baxos of St. Juan_, or the Bank of
_St. John_, which is in twenty-four Degrees of North Latitude, and
twenty Leagues North North-east from Cape _Saint Lucas_, the South-east
Point of _California_; and this Account _de Fonte_ had either from
themselves, or the Character that was sent with them, to shew the most
proper Persons had been provided to answer the Purpose for which they
were procured. And all that belongs to the Text is, which the Natives
catched on a Bank North from the _Baxos St. Juan_, twenty Leagues N. N.
E. from Cape _St. Lucas_.
'The Master Admiral _de Fonte_ had hired, with his Vessel and Mariners,
who had informed the Admiral that, 200 Leagues North from Cape _St.
Lucas_, a Flood from the North met the South Flood, and that he was
sure it must be an Island, and _Don Diego Pennelossa_ undertook to
discover whether it was an Island or not, with his Ship and the four
Shallops they bought at _Raleo_, and the Master and Mariners they hired
at _Zuelagua_.'
Here the Thread of the Letter is broke, and the Translator proceeds
as with a common Narrative of a Voyage. The Master might be easily
deceived as to the Tide, as Time hath shewn in many Instances as to
other Persons having been deceived in like Manner in other Parts.
That we have no Account of what was the Event of this Expedition
_Pennelossa_, who had undertaken the Charge, being no more to join _de
Fonte_, as it was unnecessary and to no Purpose, _Pennelossa_ would
return first and send his Account to Court. _De Fonte_ could in this
Case do no further than shew he had sent him on this Service, it must
be supposed, agreeable to his Instructions. Which, from the Boats
brought from _Realejo_, (and must be of a particular Constructure,
the like of which were not to be any where else on the Coast) and the
Master and Mariners hired here, it is evident, was before proposed,
that _Pennelossa_ should go on this Part of the Expedition, not on the
Master's declaring that there was a Tide from the Northward, and so
_California_ an Island. This was only mentioned by _de Fonte_, to shew
what Intelligence he had got in this Affair.
The Account given of _Pennelossa_ could be evidently no Part of the
Letter. What is said as to his Descent, his being a Nobleman, his
Address to Cosmography, and the Undertaking of this Discovery, must
evidence as already said, whoever inserted the Account was satisfied
as to their being such a Person so accomplished, and who aspired to
undertake this Part of the Expedition. A Discovery of these Parts
would carry, at this Time particularly, great Reputation and Honour
with it, and by this Opportunity to intercept Persons on a Design so
prejudicial to the Interests of the Court of _Spain_ in those Parts,
as it was then thought, had _Pennelossa_ succeeded; he would have had
no small Share of Merit; or if he did not succeed, the Merit of the
Attempt would be accounted of, and not unjustly, it would be a Means
of his Promotion through the Connections he had, as they would urge he
did not pursue those Sciences for Speculation only, but to carry them
into Practice for the Service of his Country. And according to the
Regulations Don _Olivarez_ had made, there was no Preferment but what
was in consequence of Service.
Sister's Son of _Don Lewis de Haro_, and a young Nobleman, expresses
as of the Time present, when the Copy was taken from which we have the
Publication; and _Don Haro, Prime Minister of Spain_, was a Gloss added
by another Hand. Neither is _Don Luis de Haro_ the Person here meant,
for he does not seem to have been of an Age to have had a Sister who
could be Mother to _Don Pennelossa_; but _Don Lopez de Haro_ is the
Person meant, _Marquis de Carpio_, the Father of _Don Luis_, who was at
that Time Gentleman of the Chamber to the King, and afterwards Prime
Minister, and must be understood the Son of his Wife's Sister, who was
a Daughter of _Olivarez_, married to the _Marquis de Valderiabano_.
'But Admiral _de Fonte_, with the other three Ships, sailed from them
within the Islands of _Chamilly_ the 10th _May_ 1640, and having
the Length of Cape _Abel_ on the W. S. W. Side of _California_, in
26 Degrees of N. Latitude, 160 Leagues N. W. and W. from the Isles
_Chamilly_; the Wind sprung up at S. S. E. a steady Gale, that from the
_26th_ of _May_ to the _14th_ of _June_ he had sailed to the River _Los
Reys_, in 53 Degrees of North Latitude, not having Occasion to lower a
Topsail, in sailing 866 Leagues N. N. W. 410 Leagues from Port _Abel_
to Cape _Blanco_, 456 Leagues to _Rio los Reyes_, all the Time most
pleasant Weather, and sailed about 260 Leagues in crooked Channels,
amongst Islands named the _Archipelagus de St. Lazarus_; where his
Ships Boats always sailed a Mile a-head, sounding to see what Water,
Rocks, and Sands, there was.'
_De Fonte_ and _Pennelossa_ both put out to Sea together; but as their
Courses were various, one to the Westward of _California_, and the
other to enter the Gulf. They parted within the Shoals of _Chiametla_
the tenth of _May_ 1640; and _de Fonte_ attaining the Length of _Cape
Abel_ in Latitude 26, one Hundred and sixty Leagues North North-west
and West from the Isles of _Chiametla_, he then meets with a fair Wind
from South South-east. By the Latitude of Cape _Abel_, and the Distance
run, it is apparent that the Islands _Chiametla_ mentioned, are the
Islands here meant.
_De Fonte_, after running one Hundred and sixty Leagues from the Isles
of _Chiametla_, in Lat. 22 Deg. 10 Min. and Long. 114 Deg. 29 Min.
attaining the Length of Cape _Abel_ in Latitude 26, his Course could
not be North-west and West, but North-west by West westerly, or 61°
22´. _and_, instead of, _by_, may be supposed an Error of the Press.
Dr. _Heylin_ mentions a convenient Haven named _St. Abad_, who wrote
near these Times. But it is _Christabel_, or _Christeval_, the Name
of a Cape the Extremity of the Land, which forms a Harbour or Port
of the same Name _Christabel_. _Prieto_ mentions no Place on the main
Land but the three Islands of _Casonas_, which lie off at Sea, so more
to Westward than this Cape. They are in Lat. 26 Deg. Long. 122 Deg. 24
Min. the Longitude of Cape _Abel_ I make in 122 Deg. 11 Min. and he
lays down the Point of _Madelena_ in 26 Deg. 30 Min. and the Long. 123
Deg. 24 Min. which seems to be the northermost Land of such Harbour.
By _de Fonte_ mentioning the Latitude of this Cape, and not any other,
he may be supposed to take from hence a new Departure, as was usual
with the _Spaniards_ when they came to this Length in these Seas, so
_Prieto_ mentions _Las Bajas de los Abraja, Primier Meridiano_. Lat.
25° 15´. Long. 121 Deg. 54 Min. from _Lima_.
_De Fonte_ in his Run from _Chiametla_ met with contrary Winds;
but when the Length of Cape _Abel_, he had Wind and Weather rather
unexpected in those Parts; and the Spring not being much advanced, he
rather expected to have been, at Times, under his Courses, which is
meant by the Expression afterwards used, that he never had occasion to
lower a Topsail, and is conformable with its being a steady Gale, or
did not overblow. As the Run to _Los Reys_ terminated the fourteenth
of _June_, _de Fonte_, for the whole eight Hundred and sixty Leagues,
sailed after the Rate of forty-five Leagues in twenty-four Hours, which
is consistent with and agreeable to the Seamens common Experience, when
favoured with such Wind and Weather. Amongst the Islands would have the
Assistance of the Floods, and Wind enough to stem the Ebbs.
The Computation of the eight Hundred and sixty-six Leagues is four
Hundred and ten Leagues to Cape _Blanquial_, to which there is a Course
assigned North North-west; and as to four Hundred and fifty-six Leagues
to _Rio los Reys_, no Courses are added, which we may assign to the
Courses being originally in the Margin, when one was introduced into
the Copy the other was neglected. And we have just Reason to suspect
the Carelessness here, as it is first called _Cape Abel_, then _Port
Abel_, and the River _Los Reys_ in 53 Degrees, and afterwards _Rio
los Reys_, as tho' they were distinct and separate. With the N. N. W.
Course _Rio los Reys_ could not be in the Latitude _de Fonte_ mentions.
_Port Abel_, Latitude 26, Long. 122° 11´, and the _Callao_ of _Lima_,
being laid down Longitude 60 West from the first Meridian of _Fero_,
and hitherto we have carried on our Computation of Longitude 80 from
_Paris_, we shall hereafter compute from _Fero_ and _London_; and Cape
_Christabel_ we compute 102° 11´ from the Meridian of _Fero_, or 119°
46´ from the Meridian of _London_.
The Course four Hundred and ten Leagues North North-west, _de Fonte_
made Cape _Blanquial_ in Latitude 45, Longitude from _London_ 129°
28´, from the Meridian of _Fero_ 111° 53´, to Northward and Westward
of the Entrance of _Martin Aquilar_. Sufficient Observations have not
been made to determine by the Geographers as to the true Latitudes
and Longitudes of these Places, and, until they attain more perfect
Informations, must disagree.
The Course from _Blanquial_ is not inserted, but is to be determined by
the Distance two Hundred and sixty Leagues, ending in Latitude 53 at
_Rio los Reys_. _De Fonte_ had, during the whole Time between _Abel_
and _Los Reys_, the Wind in his Favour. Therefore his Course must
have been to the Northward of the East; and if he run two Hundred and
sixty Leagues, with a Course East 52° North, he would make 2 Deg. 1
Min. Latitude, and 20 Deg. 24 Min. Longitude. To correspond with which
_de Fonte_ must, for the one Hundred and ninety-six Leagues, made his
Course North 52 Deg. West, which would determine in Latitude 50 Deg.
59 Min. and in Long. 141 Deg. 12 Min. from _London_, in 123 Deg. 27
Min. West from _Fero_. _De Fonte_ would then be about thirty Leagues
from the Land, agreeable to the _Russian_ Discoveries, tho' this
Voyage was made so many Years before that Attempt; a great Evidence
of the Authenticity of this Account. His Conduct also in this Case
was necessary, consistent with the Character of a good Seaman, not to
make the Coast direct, or immediately engage with this _Archipelago_,
to which he was a Stranger, and in Parts unknown, or where he had no
sailing Directions but to form such Course as gradually to fall in with
the Land, and, as the Wind was, if he saw Occasion, could at any Time
stand off.
_De Fonte_ by this Course, agreeable to the Latitude of the _Suesta
del Estrech D'Anian_, which is laid down by _Prieto_ in Latitude 51,
would be to the Southern Part of the Entrance into such _Archipelago_,
had he been Northward, as the Wind was, he would have regained it with
great Difficulty and Loss of Time.
As this Table of _Prieto_ was composed before the _Russian_
Discoveries, and this Land, the _Suesta del Estrech D'Anian_, is
computed in Longitude 141 Deg. 47 Min. computing _Lima_ at 80 Deg.
answerable to 238 Deg. 13 Min. East Longitude from _Fero_, it is a
little singular that these Accounts should agree so well, as to the
Longitude of this Part of _America_; is an Instance that _Prieto_ did
not proceed upon vague Calculations; had acquired a more exact Account
than could be even supposed in these unfrequented Parts, and in his
Care and Exactness, as to the more known Parts, we have no Reason to
doubt but he hath laid down the Latitude and Longitude of the _Suesta
del Estrech de Anian_, with the greatest Certainty that he could attain
to.
I shall not controvert it whether these are the proper Streights of
_Anian_. This Entrance was commonly called amongst the Navigators into
those Parts by that Name, as is evident from former Accounts; and
_Hornius_, from his Maps, which may be seen in _Purchase_, lays it down
in the same Manner. My Intention is answered in producing an Authority
from the _Spaniards_ of _New Spain_, that there is an Entrance here
agreeable to the Account in this Letter; also, in all Appearance,
a superior Entrance to that of _Martin Aguilar_, which _Prieto_
doth not expresly mention; neither could he properly; but inserts
Cape _Escondido_ in Lat. 43, and Cape _Blanquial_ in Lat. 45, an
intermediate Distance of one Hundred and twenty Miles. Again mentions
the Port of _Salagua_ in Lat. 46, and then the Port of _Salado_ in Lat.
48; in which Interspace the Entrance of _de Fuca_ is supposed to be.
By the Name _Archipelago_, _de Fonte_, who would give the Name with
Propriety, expresses it to be a Sea; and on his Return says, he sailed
down the River _Los Reys_ to the North-east _Part_ of the _South Sea_;
after that returned home. Where the Word _Part_, properly speaking, or
to use the Word as it really imports, can be no otherwise understood
than as an Arm or Branch of the _South Sea_. Had he steered eight
Hundred and sixty-six Leagues North North-west, he must necessarily
have traversed the Courses of those brave Discoverers Capt. _Beering_
and _Tschirikow_, which were from Lat. 45 in _Asia_, to Lat. 56 and 58
in _America_, and who were not interrupted by any such Islands. Capt.
_Tschirikow_ positively says, the Coast was without Islands where he
was in Lat. 56; by Capt. _Beering_'s Account in Lat. 58, the Islands
lay only _along_ the Coast; and _de Fonte_ in his Account mentions,
that he sailed in crooked Channels, amongst Islands. These various
Descriptions shew that these Accounts relate to various Parts. As _de
Fonte_ could not, in the whole Extent between _Asia_ and _America_,
meet with such Islands, and yet was under a Necessity to pass up
crooked Channels, with no small Hazard, as the Boats being a-head
express, his Course must have been to the Eastward of where Captain
_Tschirikow_ fell in with the Land, and for the Distance of the two
Hundred and thirty Leagues before _de Fonte_ came to a River, to _Los
Reyes_, was then passing up the North-east Part of the _South Sea_,
as he terms it, and in some Part of which there were Islands, which
he names the _Archipelagus of St. Lazarus_. There is a Singularity
of Expression in the Letter, _where_ his Boats always sailed a-head,
the Word _where_ limits the Islands to a certain Space, and that they
were not extended the whole two Hundred and thirty Leagues, which is
consistent with the Expedition he made, as otherwise the Ships must
have often shortened sail, and it could not be avoided, and must have
frequently brought up at Night.
As _de Fonte_ did neither make the South or North Shore of this
Streight, the most comprehensive Way of expressing himself was to
say, he passed up these Islands, by which those who had composed his
Instructions well knew the Parts he meant. It must be considered
_de Fonte_ was not as to this Part on Discovery, the Whole would be
pointed out to him by his Instructions, which being to fall in with the
Islands, or Entrance in such a Latitude, to mention either the North
or South Limit of the Entrance would be improper; whereas the contrary
was the Case as to Cape _St. Helena_, _Francisco_, _Passao_, and Cape
_Abel_, as his Instructions were express, as to the making these Lands.
As _de Fonte_ made a true Course East 81° North, subtract the Longitude
20 Deg. 24 Min. from the Longitude 141 Deg. 12 Min. from _London_, and
from the 123 Deg. 27 Min. from _Fero_. The Entrance to the River _Los
Reys_ lies in Lat. 53 Deg. Long. 120 Deg. 48 Min. from _London_, and
103 Deg. 3 Min. West from _Fero_. And that his Course was now Easterly
is plain from the subsequent Words of the Letter, _as they sailed more
Easterly_. It was also confident with the Purpose they were sent on, to
meet a Vessel from _Boston_.
'The 22d of _June_ Admiral _de Fonte_ dispatched one of his Captains
to _Pedro de Barnarda_, to sail up a fair River, a gentle Stream, and
deep Water, went first N. and N. E. N. and N. W. into a large Lake
full of Islands, and one very large _Peninsula_ full of Inhabitants,
a friendly honest People in this Lake, he named Lake _Valasco_, where
Captain _Barnarda_ left his Ship; nor all up the River was less than 4,
5, 6, 7, and 8 Fathom Water, both the Rivers and Lakes abounding with
Salmon Trouts, and very large white Perch, some of two Foot long; and
with three large _Indian_ Boats, by them called _Periagos_, made of two
large Trees 50 or 60 Foot long. Capt. _Barnarda_ first sailed from his
Ships in the Lake _Valasco_, one Hundred and forty Leagues West, and
then 436 E. N. E. to 77 Degrees of Latitude. Admiral _de Fonte_, after
he had dispatched Capt. _Barnarda_ on the Discovery of the North and
East Part of the _Tartarian Sea_.'
We may suppose, from the Manner in which this Part was managed, that
there was a great Necessity to get the Translation finished in any
Manner. As the Difficulties of the Translation increased, the Design
of this Account being only Amusement, the Translator thought it would
answer the Purpose to give the Account in gross.
The Date, the 22d _June_, is an apparent Error, by reason _de Fonte_
did not enter into Lake _Belle_, as will be shewn hereafter, until that
Time.
Admiral _de Fonte_ dispatched one of his Captains to _Pedro de
Barnarda_, to sail up a fair River, gentle Stream, and deep Water.
Then the Translation breaks off abruptly, and the Translator renders
the following Part as an Account of _Bernarda_'s Voyage, not observing
how just a Connection there is with _de Fonte_ dispatching one of his
Captains to _Bernarda_; and what follows being the Orders sent by him,
and the Instructions for _Bernarda_; instead of being _Bernarda_'s
Account of his Expedition, and not observing how consistent it is with
being a summary Recital of those Instructions these Words are which
follow, Admiral _de Fonte_, after he had dispatched Captain _Bernarda_
on the Discovery, _&c._
As to his dispatching one of his Captains, he must be supposed to have
besides the Captain of the Ship he was in, also one called an Admiral's
Captain. The Instructions were of such Consequence, that a less Person
might not be so properly employed, nor consistent with the Respect due
to _Bernarda_.
_De Fonte_ and _Bernarda_ were Strangers here; but these Parts had been
already discovered, as it is expresly said that _two Pater Jesuits_
had been here two Years, and made Observations as far as the Latitude
66. From their Discoveries we may conclude, that these Instructions
were formed which _Bernarda_ received, and those of the whole Course
of the Voyage; and it was necessary that _de Fonte_ should not only
mention that he had dispatched _Bernarda_, but should also, with the
Brevity due to a Letter, mention the Orders with which he dispatched
him. And further from what is expressed in those Orders, as to the
River, the Course and Soundings, what Fish were in the River and Lake,
the Road or Harbour which was to be found in the Lake, the Temper and
Disposition of the Inhabitants, it evidently appears that there had
been a prior Discovery of these Parts, and Observations made of every
Thing worthy of Consideration, and necessary also at this Time to be
mentioned to _Bernarda_. To let him know that his Ship could pass up
the River, would find a Harbour in the Lake, he had nothing to fear
from the Natives, and would meet with Provisions. There leaving his
Ship he might be furnished with _Periagos_ to proceed. And I understand
his Directions to steer first North and North-east, then North and
North-west, that he might make no Mistake by pursuing or entering into
any other Openings which might present themselves in his Course up, and
which from their Appearance might perplex him, as to which of them he
was to enter; no uncommon Thing, as those who have been to Northward on
like Undertakings will allow.
'The Admiral sailed up a very navigable River, which he named _Rio los
Reys_, that run nearest N. E. but on several Points of the Compass 60
Leagues, at low Water, in a fair navigable Channel, not less than 4
or 5 Fathom Water. It flowed on both Rivers near the same Water, in
the River _Los Reys_, 24 Feet Full and Change of the Moon; a S. S. E.
Moon made high Water. It flowed in the River _Haro_, 22 Feet and a
half Full and Change. They had two Jesuits with them, that had been on
their Mission to 66 Degrees of North Latitude, and had made curious
Observations.'
_De Fonte_, having dispatched _Bernarda_, sets out on his Part of the
Expedition, and proceeds up the River _Los Reys_, at the Entrance
of which he had arrived the fourteenth of _June_. During his Stay,
until _Bernarda_ was dispatched and sailed, he seems to have taken an
accurate Account of the Tides in both Rivers. The Distance up the River
was more than sixty Leagues, and though a good navigable Channel, yet
would require a great Precaution in his Proceeding with the two Ships;
Tide Times and the Night would make it necessary for him to bring too;
for had he touched the Ground with either of them, the Delay that might
have followed on such Accident, might have defeated this Part of the
Undertaking, and the most important, and which, therefore, was allotted
to him to execute.
Their having had two Jesuits with them seems an additional Note. That
two Jesuits should be sent into those Parts to make Observations,
is but consistent with the general Practice of the Jesuits to go
on Missions into all Parts of the Globe, engaged by a special Vow,
not injoined any other Order, to be always ready to go and preach
whithersoever they shall be sent.