202 JOURNAL OF GALLEGO. 



again and carry out ijis search, and "I told him " — adds Gallego — 

 " that it was necessary for the safety of the ships that he should 

 find a port without delay." The position of the Spanish vessels was 

 a truly critical one ; and only those who have been similarly situated 

 in a sailing ship in unsurveyed waters, studded with unknown coral 

 reefs, can realise how anxious the moment was. 



"Committing ourselves to God " — thus Galleo:o writes — " I sent a 

 man aloft to the fore-top, and placed another on the bowsprit, and I 

 told them to notice where the shoals were white. The soundincr- 

 lead was kept in hand ; and in the event of our having to go about 

 or to anchor, we stood by the sheets and bowlines and had the 

 anchor cleared. I steered for the place where we found seven 

 fathoms of water, as it seemed to me that we should not find a less 

 depth. The boat had not yet reached the shore, so I determined to 

 sound and I got twelve fathoms with a clear bottom ; and farther 

 on it was deeper and also clear of rocks. Although it was mid-day, 

 a star appeared to us over the entrance of the reef. Taking it as a 

 guide and as a good omen, we were cheered in spirit and became 

 more hopeful. As we proceeded, the water deepened little by little : 

 and I informed the General that we were already clear of the reefs . . . 

 I signalled to the ' Almiranta ' to follow us. As we neared the 

 harbour where the boat had gone, they signalled to us that they had 

 found a good anchorage. Presently we entered the harbour with 

 the star over the bow, and we anchored, the ' Almiranta ' entering 

 shortly afterwards. At the entrance of the port is a rock (or islet), 

 in size larger than the ship. 



" It was the day of Santa Polonia, the 9th of February. The 

 harbour, which is in the latitude of 7° 50", we named the port of 

 Santa Isabel del Estrella ; and we named the island, Santa Isabel. 

 The Indians called the island Camba ; and their cacique is named 

 Billebanarra. This harbour lies nearly in the middle of the north 

 coast of the island, and is 26 leagues north-east and south-west from 

 the reefs.^ Having disembarked with the other captains, I took 

 possession of the island in the name of His Majesty. A cross was 

 erected : and I chose a convenient place for building a brigantine." 



. On the following day, Gallego landed with the carpenters ; and 

 tiiey began with all diligence to fell the trees and to saw the planks 



1 The reefs, here referred to, are evidently the Candelaria Shoals. This bearing of the 

 harliour with these shoals does not warrant the position which has been assigned to Estrella 

 Bay in the present Admiralty Chart, its position there being due south of these reefs. 



