Relates how a quantity of water was collected from two great
showers of rain; how the ship crossed the equator; how an island
was discovered; how the last agreement was made at a meeting;
and of the courses and latitudes as far as a certain point.
With the wind S.E., which had now broken its fury, they continued to
navigate until the eve of St. John the Baptist. On that day God was
served by giving us a great shower of rain. With twenty-eight sheets
stretched all over the ship, we collected, from this and another
rainfall, three hundred jars of water: a relief for our necessities,
and a great consolation for all the people. With a few changes of
wind and some calms, heading to the N., we reached the line on the
2nd of July. That night the needle was marked, and it was found that
the variation was to the N.E. by E., a notable thing, for in the bay
it was 7° almost on the same meridian, and the distance so short.
With the wind S. and S.W. we continued to navigate until the
8th of July. On that day we saw an island, about 6 leagues in
circumference. As until now we had not met with any island or rock
whatever to impede our road, we gave it the name of "Buen Viaje." Its
latitude is 3° 30' N. It was decided not to approach it nearer, as it
was not convenient, and for fear of rocks. In this part, in a higher
latitude, we had some rain, especially one shower, which filled all
the jars that were empty, and it was drunk without doing the least
harm, nor did it ever get bad. In short, after God, the rain showers
saved our lives.
On the 23rd of July the Captain ordered the Pilots to state the
latitude they were in, and the distance in leagues from the Philippines
and from the coast of New Spain, according to their calculations;
also, they were to declare definitely in which direction the ship's
head was to be turned.
They gave 3° 10' N. as the latitude, 780 leagues east of Manilla,
and 780 leagues S.W. of the coast of New Spain, adding that the ship
could not go to Manilla owing to contrary winds [116] at that time;
and it was, therefore, their opinion that the course should be steered
for the coast of New Spain and the port of Acapulco.
It appeared to the Captain that the best service he could do to His
Majesty at present was to save the ship, save time, save the expenses
caused if they went to Manilla, and the cost of the ship with all hands
during a whole year; and being so far to windward of the meridian of
Japan, there was no wind that could impede their reaching a higher
latitude or to reach the coast. He also considered that the ship
was well supplied with water and biscuit, and all the crew healthy,
and that there were two natives of those parts on board to give
information; that if he should die at sea there would be others to
navigate the ship, so that His Majesty would be informed of all that
had been discovered and promised, and that he was bound to choose the
least of two evils; he ordered the Pilots to shape a course for New
Spain and the port of Acapulco, and to give an account of the route
they followed, and the latitude each day. He said to them that he
who suffered most and should be most useful, would be most worthy
of reward.
Considering the state of affairs owing to the delayed despatch
at the Court of Spain and in Callao, I say that, for its grandeur
and importance, and the facility with which the Captain is able to
demonstrate all his thoughts and wishes by his works, so many times
made known, it has been the greatest of the injuries done to a man
who has bought it by such continual labour and misery, and other
very high costs, wandering and finding in so long a journey very
great difficulties. For all these, and a thousand other reasons,
the Captain did not know whether to throw the blame on ignorance
or malice, and ended by attributing it to his many great sins. He,
therefore, confessed that he was not worthy to see the end of a work
in which those who lived righteously would be well employed, having
all the qualifications that so sacred an enterprise requires.