I 82 



THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA 



Such is the Pilot's story. Owing to a series of mis- 

 adventures of a purely nautical character, the Capitana, 

 in sight of port, and so near to it that those on board 

 could hear the people of the Almirante taking in sail and 

 anchoring, was blown away from it, blown into the middle 

 of the Harbour, blown out of the Harbour altogether, 

 blown out to sea, and, after spending eight days trying 

 to regain the Harbour, had to give it up, and sailed away 

 for the appointed rendezvous at Santa Cruz. 



There seems nothing suspicious about the story. One 

 hundred and seventy years later Cook found himself 

 in similar difficulties in the same place. The Bay, he 

 says, is of unfathomable depth except near the shores. 

 He found three fathoms' depth close to the beach, yet 

 fifty or fifty-five two cables away. Two miles from the 

 beach there was no sounding at one hundred and seventy 

 fathoms. It was only by a lucky change of weather 

 that " we were relieved from the apprehension of being 

 forced to anchor in a great depth on a lee shore, and in 

 a dark obscure night." One feels certain that Cook 

 would find no nautical difficulty in the Pilot's story. 



The narrative of Quiros, 1 evidently written in this part 

 by Bermudez, and with a free hand, tells a story which is 

 substantially the same, but which has a difference or addi- 

 tion. At 3 p.m., the writer says, Quiros noted that the 

 Almirante and the launch were far ahead, and near the port. 

 He asked the reason, for the Capitana was the best ship, and 

 he was told that the other ships had met with more favour- ^ 

 able winds, while the Capitana had used very little sail, and 

 had made very short tacks ; reasons that seemed good 

 enough. The wind grew stronger, and the night came 

 on very dark, and the Pilot ordered that, if they could 

 not reach the port, they must anchor wherever it was 

 possible. The Almirante and the launch appeared to 

 have anchored, and had lit their lanterns as leading marks 

 for the Capitana. Soundings were taken, and they found 

 the bottom at thirty fathoms, not being an arquebus 

 shot from the port. But the wind came down in a gust. 



1 Quiros, ed. Markham, pp. 278-281. 



