DISCOVERY OF THE SOLOMONS 



137 



The Friars wished that they should sail Westward, think- 

 ing perhaps of mission work in New Guinea or the 

 Philippines. But the Pilots reported that the ships 

 were worm-eaten and worn out, and that it was necessary 

 to sail for home at once. The majority accepted this view, 

 and so did Mendafia. The plan of a settlement in the 

 Solomons was abandoned ; and thereby, likely enough, 

 the discovery of the East coast of Australia was postponed 

 for two hundred years. 



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ORTELIUS'S MAP OF 1587. - 

 {From a copy in the British Museum.) Note addition of the Solomon Islands to the earlier Map. 



On the nth of August, 1568, they sailed, not for The voyage 

 Peru, but for Mexico. Sarmiento once more protested. 

 He urged that they should sail for Peru on a South-East 1568. 

 course, and on the way make a search for the continent 

 and islands, which they had missed on their outward 

 voyage, and which would be found " opposite Chili." 

 Mendana also seems to have wished to take this course. 

 But the Pilots declared that adverse winds made it 

 impossible ; a professional opinion that was afterwards 

 severely criticised by Quiros, who declares that the 

 winds on the South are as favourable as those on the 

 North. 



