^8 OVALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



of St. Vincent ; and entering into it, went through it in lefs than one day, it not be- • 

 ing above feven leagues in length ; and being entered afterwards into the South-Sea, 

 they followed the fame land to the eaft, and fouth-wefl thirty leagues more ; and fee- 

 ing it was one continued coaft, clofed up with mountains of great height, they durjft 

 not go any further, beginning to want provifions ; and fo thinking that this land might 

 reach as far as the Cape of Good Hope, they left it, and failed to the weft entrance of 

 the ftraight of Magellan ; which they entered, and went through to the North-Sea, 

 returning that way to Spain, to give an account of what they had difcovered, having 

 made a very fortunate voyage, and not loft one man, nor had any ficknefs, all that 

 climate being very like that of Europe, and particularly to the cold part of it. This 

 made the king give order for the fetting out of eight fail more, to carry this way 

 to the Philippine illands all the relief necelfary, of foldiers, artillery, and tackling for 

 fhips, refolving henceforward that they fhould always go this way, as being fhorter, 

 eafier, and of lefs charge and danger. This was the opinion of Michael de Cardoel, 

 and the other pilots chofen for this .expedition, who obliged themfelves to fail to the 

 Philippines (bating extraordinary accidents) in eight or nine months ; for, having once 

 paffed the ftraights, if they had the wind and currents favourable, they hoped to get 

 to the Philippines in two months ; becaufe from Chile to thofe iflands, there is no rea- 

 fon, as in other navigations, to wait for certain feafons arid times of the year ; for all 

 that voyage being to be made within the tropicks, there is no danger of winter ; but 

 one may fail it at any time of the year. 



The Dutch authors already cited, treating of this fubjeft, add thefe words : — " In 

 truth this is a great conveniency to mankind, to be able to go from Europe to thefe 

 iflands in fo ftiort a time, with all the health and fafety of the failors ; it being other- 

 wife in going by the Cape of Good Hope, where the diverfity of winds is to be ob- 

 ferved, fome of them being fo contrary, as to hinder abfolutely the voyage ; fo that it 

 lafts fometimes fifteen or fixteen months. Befides, this courfe is fo fubjeft to difeafes, 

 that often they bury half their men in the fea, as happened to Girrard Reinft, who was 

 fixteen months getting to Bantam, which is not above half way to the Philippines, and 

 yet loft a quarter of his men : Adrian Wreuter was nineteen months getting to Bantam, 

 and loft out of the fhip, called the Fleffingue, one hundred and fixty-three out of two 

 hundred : the fame happened to the other three fliips of that fquadron." Thus far 

 thefe Dutch authors j who add, that the ftiip Concordia, going the other way, arrived 

 at the Moluccas without lofing a man. And if they fay true, and make out that it is 

 better to fail this way to their Batavia, how much better is it for the Spaniards, who 

 drive a trade with Peru and Chile, the diftance being much lefs, and having for 

 friends all the ports of Chile, if they would not go fo high as Peru, which the 

 Dutch have not ? Neither would it be a fmall advantage to exchange in thofe ports 

 the merchandizes of Europe with their product, which is fo wanting in the Philippine 

 iflands, and all thofe parts of the eaft. Every one may find their account in this trade ; 

 the Spaniards, without running the danger of ficknefs in thofe unhealthy climates of 

 Carthagena, Panama, and Puerto Bello, might find as much vent for the European 

 commodities ; Chile and Peru would have all goods from' Spain much cheaper than 

 they have them now by the Terra Firma ; the charges then would be three times lefs ; 

 and, at the fame time, they would help off" the products of thofe parts ; as from Peru 

 they might load corn, wine, and oil ; and if they did not care to go fo far, they might 

 have the fame things from Chile, and cheaper, befides copper, hides, almonds, and 

 other commodities proper to Europe : fo that it is clear this would be a very advanta- 

 geous intercourfe for the Philippines, who want all thefe commodities fo much. 



4 t Neither 



