Part 6

The Expression, 'anchored in the Port of _St. Helena_ (in _Spanish_, _Santa Elena_) _within the Cape_,' hath something more particular in it than appears on a transient View. The Point of _St. Helena_ is thus described in the sailing Directions in the _Atlas Maritimus_, published in 1728. 'The Point itself is high, but as you come nearer in there is a lower Point runs out sharpening towards the Sea. And there are two distinct Anchorages within this Port, one within the lower Point, here Vessels ride without Shelter, and amongst Banks and Shoals. Under the high Land, there is the other Anchorage, deep Water, and secure riding.' Under this high Land, being called the Port within the Cape, is a Distinction which I do not find made by the Voyage Writers, or in any other of the sailing Directions for these Parts that I have seen; and _de Fonte_ particularly mentions, as it may be supposed, being in Conformity with his Instructions.

_De Fonte_ taking in the _Betumen_ must have been in pursuance of his Instructions, and there provided for him by Order of the Viceroy.

That which follows, called vulgarly Tar, _&c._ seems to be an Interpolation, or additional Comment, though not distinguished as such; and it may be observed here is a different Mode of Expression, and a Want of that Conciseness which apparently precedes. If with these Words took _a Quantity of Betumen_, we connect _on the 10th we passed the Equinoctial_, then that Conciseness and Simplicity of the Narration is preserved. It is inconsistent that _de Fonte_ should inform the Court, that it was not for Want of Tar that he put into this Port, and that he did not procure this _Betumen_ to use instead of Tar, but to make Use of it as Medicine. The taking the _Betumen_ aboard sufficiently intimated his Compliance with his Instructions. The Expression, _we took it in for Medicine_, hath something particular in it, seems to be a Note or Memorandum added by some Person who made the Voyage, to instruct a Friend for whom he made, or to whom he gave, a Copy of this Letter.

The one Degree seven Minutes of Latitude is misplaced, Cape _St. Francisco_ being by no Geographers or Voyage Writers placed in that Latitude; the one Degree seven Minutes is the Latitude of the River _St. Jago_, and which _Prieto_ lays down in one Degree eight Minutes.

As to the Courses and Distances eighty Leagues N. N. W. and twenty-five Leagues E. and by S. which were placed in the Margin in the first Edition, but are since crept into the Text. N. N. W. is a Course entirely contrary, and instead of one there is two Courses, North and North East, and which two Courses are consistent with the E. and by S. Course twenty-five Leagues, as that Course will then terminate in the Latitude and Longitude of the River _Jago_. This Error of North West for North East may be accounted for by remarking, that in the _Spanish_ Compass North East and North West are rendered _Nord Este_ and _Nord Oeste_: The Omission of the _O_ in _este_ is a Fault which may be committed even by a careful Transcriber, or may be a Mistake in the Translator, for Want of due Attention to the Compass.

In the Passage from _St. Helena_ he would keep the Coast aboard, for the Benefit of a fair and fresh Wind, and which he would have without any Interruption from the Land Breezes, and by standing N. W. to clear the Islands of _Solango_ and _Paita_, and then stand North Easterly would form a North Course of one Hundred and Thirty-two Miles, or forty-four Leagues, and then be off Cape _Passao_, in N. Lat. 8´. Long. 83° 59´ W. and well in with such Cape, as it is evident he was from the Expression in the Letter by the Cape _del Passao_ with a North East Course, thirty-six Leagues, they would be in Lat. 1° 23´ North, Long. 82° 50´, and so have passed Cape _Francisco_, N. Lat. 50´, Long. 82° 55´, and with an East and by South Course twenty-five Leagues, would be in the Lat. 1° 8´, Long. 81° 36´, the Latitude and Longitude of the River _St. Jago_.

There was not such a Provision Country, it appears from later Accounts, on any Part of the Coast between this and _Lima_; nor could the Ships be any where brought up with greater Safety: _St. Helena_ is described as a poor and barren Part of the Country.

The Health of his People, liable to scorbutick Disorders in the northern Climates whither he was going, was an Object that must be attended to, in order that the Voyage should meet with the desired Success. Therefore after the _Betumen_, he recruits what he had consumed of his fresh Provision in his run from _Lima_, and lays in a great additional Store, as is apparent if we consider that their Consumption in this respect is not proportionable to ours, from their Mode of dressing it. And we may judge from having so great a Quantity of Fowl ready, with Goats and Hogs, the People had received Orders to be thus provided against the Ships Arrival; the Sailors would be a great Assistance in curing the Provisions, the Flesh as well as the Fish, and would do it in the most suitable Manner for the Sea Service; a Number of Hands, gave an Expedition so as the Provisions would not be spoiled by the Heat of the Sun; and his Victualling detained _de Fonte_ four Days.

_Six Miles and a half, or the Left Hand the River is navigable for small Vessels_, and all that follows seems by Way of Comment, and to be a spurious Interpolation, as also, _which are there wild and in plenty_.

'The 16th of _April_ we sailed from the River of _St. Jago_ to the Port and Town _Raleo_, 320 Leagues W. N. W. a little westerly, in about 11 Degrees 14 Min. of N. Latitude, leaving Mount _St. Miguel_, &c.'

The Point of _Yeaxos_, or the _Sandy Strand_, in Lat. 11° 58´, Long. 93° 31´, which covers the Port of _Raleo_ (or _Realejo_) is three Hundred and twenty Leagues from the River _St. Jago_; but the Course N. 47° 30´ W. or N. W. almost a Quarter West, and by the Expression _a little_ Westerly, the W. N. W. seems to mean, he steered first West from the River _St. Jago_, until he made the high Land, and then North-west, a little Westerly.

Between Mount _Miguel_ and Point _Cazarnina_ (rightly _Caravina_) is the Entrance in the Bay of _Amapalla_, which is to the Northward of the Port of _Realejo_; therefore the leaving Mount _St. Miguel_ on the Larboard, _&c._ being an absolute Contradiction to _de Fonte_ entering the Port of _Realejo_, is an Interpolation and not inserted by the Person who wrote the Letter, but a Comment very injudiciously added by Way of Explanation. From this Circumstance the Truth of my Assertion appears, as to there being Glosses and Comments added to the original Text, and that I had good Reason to believe several Places in the preceding Part of this Account to be Interpolations added by Way of Comment.

The great Ships that are built in _New Spain_ are built in _Raleo_ is disposed in the Margin in the first Edition; but in all the subsequent Editions hath crept into the Text. We may suppose the W. N. W. Course hath crept into the Text in the first Edition to make room for this Comment, as may be judged from the Course between _St. Helena_ and _St. Jago_ being placed in the Margin: And there is an apparent Reason for the Course and Distances being so placed, for when inserted in the Text, they interrupt the Attention; and as the Courses and Distances were all that was necessary to be mentioned, the Latitudes have been since added by some injudicious Person.--The Latitude of _Passao_, of Cape _St. Francisco_, is not mentioned, and the Latitude of _Raleo_ is wrong, which the Course and Distance shews, and its Latitude is in most Maps agreeable to the Course and Distance here given. The Run, allowing _de Fonte_ eight Days, would be but one hundred Miles in twenty-four Hours, which is very moderate going. Nor can there be any Objection, as to the Truth of this Account, from the Time that _de Fonte_ is sailing between the _Callao_ of _Lima_ to _St. Helena_, from _St. Helena_ to _St. Jago_.

All that belongs to the original Letter I take to be this, The 16th of _April_ we sailed from the River _St. Jago_ to the Port and Town of _Raleo_; here we bought (which probably might as well be rendered procured) four long well-sailed Shallops, built express for sailing, riding at Anchor, _&c._ The 320 Leagues W. N. W. a little Westerly, I suppose to have been placed in the Margin.

It cannot be supposed that Boats so fitted, and four of them, could be procured in so small a Time as _de Fonte_ staid here, it implies they were previously provided before that he arrived, to be ready at the Arrival of the Ships.

'The _26th_ we sailed from _Raleo_ for the Port of _Saragua_, or 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.