Page:Early voyages to Terra Australis.djvu/181

 T,UIS VAKZ DE TORRES. 33

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 valu- ables. They were a savage people, mulattoes, and corpu- lent : 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 M'as all of it very low, so as in parts to be overflowed.

From this place in 16^° S., we stood N.W. by N. to lOf ° S. In this situation we saw an island, which was sup- posed 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 grou.nd 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 expe- dient for Your Majesty's service. The crew of the Ccqntana 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. F