204 JOURNAL OF GALLEGO. 



rigging was set up. It having been resolved that she should pro- 

 ceed on a voyage to discover the other islands and harbours, Gallego, 

 Ortega, with 18 soldiers ^ and 12 sailors, embarked on board ; and 

 on the 7th of April they left the port. Following the coast along 

 to the south-east, they came to two islets, lying six leagues away 

 from the port of Santa Isabel de la Estrella, and situated, according 

 to an observation of Gallego, exactly in the latitude of 8°. On 

 these islets were many palms which were deemed to be palmettos 

 and cocoa-nut trees. " This land," as the Chief Pilot remarks, 

 " trends south-east and north-west. The needle stood a point to 

 the north-east and there remained. Proceeding on our cruise, we 

 saw many islets in the same direction .... ^ 5 leagues from 

 where we had started ; and we anchored at an islet in which we 

 found a canoe and three houses. We landed- 7 soldiers ; and they 

 went up towards the houses in search of the Indians, who, however, 

 carried off their canoe. On reaching the houses, the soldiers found 

 a quantity of provisions, which they brought on board the brigan- 

 tine. Continuing our voyage along the coast, 17 canoes came out 

 to us. In them came an exceedingly daring Indian, who, calling 

 himself the cacique Babalay, held his bow towards us, and signified 

 to us that we should go with him, and that, if we should not wish 

 to go, he would carry us by force and would kill us. On account of 

 his audacity, the " maestro de campo " ordered them to fire and 

 knocked him down with a shot ; and when those in the canoes saw 

 liim fall, they all fled to the shore. Shortly afterwards, I tacked 

 towards the shore in order to make a port, as the wind was strong. 

 In a little time we came to an anchor, and I found by observation 

 that the latitude was 8^° . . . . ^" Leaving this anchorage, 

 they stood out to sea, with the wind in the north-north-west; and 

 in a short time they kept away and followed the coast along to the 

 .south-east-by-east. 



" And as we sailed on," continues Gallego, " the mast sprung and 

 nearl}^ fell on us. Seeing what had hajipened, I ordered the sails to 

 be secured and the tackle to be brought to the weather side, and in 



1 According to the MS. in tbis^passage, only 10 so'.diers embarked ; but on one occasion 

 during the ciuise it is stated tliat 18 soldiers were landed [videp. 207), a number which agrees 

 with that given by Figueroa, 



- The words omitted here are in the Spanish : ' ' hasta la provincia de Vallas," 



2 Reference is here made to the fact that the coast ran north-west-by-west with the 

 island of Meta, which was seven (?) leagues distant. This island of Meta was probably a 

 small coast island on wliich tlie chief of that name lived. 



