CHAPTER XI 



THE VOYAGE OF TORRES 



AUTHORITIES : 



Voyages of Quiros, MARKHAM (Hakluyt Society). 

 COLLINGRIDGE'S Discovery of Australia. 



Torres obeys AT midnight on Sunday the nth of June, Torres, at 

 instructions. ancnor at the head of the Bay, had seen the Capitana 

 blown through the Bay and out of sight. Next morning 

 he put to sea to seek her, but all efforts failed. It seemed 

 evident that she " did not sail on the proper course, nor 

 with good intention." The weak Captain had once more 

 been mastered by his crew, and had been compelled to 

 abandon the plan. But Torres still had the Almirante, 

 which was " a good ship," and also the launch, and he 

 determined to obey the instructions that had been given by 

 Quiros at the beginning of his voyage. These had ordered 

 that, when in this part of the world, " he will steer South- 

 West as far as 20, thence North- West to 4, and on that 

 parallel he is to steer West in search of New Guinea," 

 and so by way of the North coast of New Guinea to Manila. 

 Torres determined to obey those instructions, " although 

 contrary to the inclination oi many, I may say of the 

 greater part ; but my temper was different from that 

 of Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros." 



Slightnessof The voyage that followed is one of the most remarkable 

 information m history, and it is unfortunate that our information 

 is so very little. Our main authority is the letter which 

 Torres wrote to the King of Spain from Manila on the 

 1 2th of July, 1607. He complains that the " Royal 

 Audience of Manila have not hitherto thought proper 



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