AUSTRIALIA DEL ESPIRITU SANTO 173 



much higher honours. Let them bear in mind that what 

 remains in their power to attain in this very high enter- 

 prise is very great, for it is now known that the enterprise 

 holds a world for its heaven and its earth. " Pray to God, 

 gentlemen, that it may serve Him to send us greater lands, 

 and other things. ... I charge you all to be, as it were, 

 members of one body." 



It seemed to Quiros that his words were " listened 

 to with much pleasure and accepted with satisfaction." 

 The Franciscans persuaded all the new-made Knights 

 to confess, in order that, on the next day, the day of Pente- 

 cost, they might earn the Holy Jubilee which His Holi- 

 ness had conceded to the expedition. At night all the 

 ships were illuminated, and sent off rockets and fire-wheels. 

 All the artillery was fired off ; and when the natives heard 

 the noise, and the echoes resounding over hills and valleys, 

 they raised great shouts. We sounded drums, rang the 

 bells, had music and dancing ; and the Captain said to 

 all, " Gentlemen, this is the eve of my long desired day." 



Next day, the day of Pentecost (i4th May), just before 

 dawn, Torres the " Camp master" and the other "Ministers" 

 landed with an armed party, and with the help of the Friars The official 

 prepared the " booth made of branches " that was to serve ^ y ms ' I4t 

 both as Church and as Fort. Then Quiros landed in state. 

 On his left was carried a cross made of the orange wood 

 of the country, on his right the royal standard. The 

 Knights of the Holy Ghost, with cross on breast, were 

 drawn up in good order on the beach, showing, it seemed 

 to Quiros, sharpened resolves to finish what they had 

 commenced, and to begin much greater things ! He 

 went down on his knees, saying, " To God alone be the 

 honour and the glory." Then, putting his hand on the 

 ground, he kissed it and said : " Oh Land ! sought for 

 so long, intended to be found by so many, and so desired 

 by me ! " The six Friars, bare-footed an'd kneeling on 

 the beach, received the cross in their arms, saying with 

 great tenderness : "I adore thee, O Holy Cross, for the 

 Author of Our life, made flesh, died on thee for me, so 

 great a sinner, and for the whole human race." They raised 



