JOURNAL OF GALLEGO. 219 



some went to attack the brigantine, whilst the others went to attack 

 those who were getting water on shore. When we saw their deter- 

 mined daring, shots were fired by which some were killed and many- 

 wounded ; and so they tied, leaving behind two canoes empt}^ and 

 carrying ofi" the rest. The large canoe was much injured, and in 

 their precipitation they threw themselves into the sea; but we took 

 the canoe with four Indians, two wounded and two unharmed. We 

 landed them, and treating them well, gave them their liberty and 

 restored their canoe. And so they went away; and I kept a boy 

 that I took here. I found the latitude to be in 10|°. On the south- 

 south-east side of the point, the coast trends from north-east to 

 south-west, but from this point we could not see the end of it. The 

 port is 40 leagues from where we left the ships.^ 



" We left this port with some difficulty as it lies among the reefs. 

 We saw to the south-east-by-east an island 7 leagues away;^ but we 

 did not go to it, as we were going to the island of Malaita, as the 

 Indians name it, which lies with the island of Guadalcanal, and 

 with the point where we had been, north-east-by-east. We sailed 

 to the north-east-by-east for 16 leagues, and arrived at a good har- 

 bour which has many reefs at the entrance. There came out 25 

 canoes with warriors who discharged their arrows. Some shots 

 were fired at them, which killed some and wounded others. This 

 port, which is on the south-south-west coast, is in the latitude of 

 10^° ; and the name, Escondido, was given to it, because it is almost 

 enclosed by reefs.^ In this island we found apples of some size, 

 oranges, a metal that seemed to be a base kind of gold, and, besides, 

 pearl-shell, with which they inlay the club they use in battle, being 

 the one they usually carry. These natives, like the rest, go com- 

 pletely naked. In the name of His Majesty we took possession of 

 this island, to which we gave the name of the Isle of Ramos." ( Vide 

 Note VI., Geographical Appendix.) 



" Leaving this port, we sailed to the south-east for four leagues, 

 and discovered an entrance to a harbour resemblino: a river dividincr 



1 The description of this part, its situation, and relative position to the adjoining coasts 

 of Malaita and St. Christoval, as stated below, all point to its identity with Marau Sound. 

 In the Geographical Appendix reference is made to the discrepancies in the distances and 

 latitudes of Gallego. 



2 This island is evidently St. Christoval. 



3 Future visitors to the southern portion of Malaita will doubtless be able to identify this 

 port ■with some anchorage on the west coast to the northward of the Maramasiki Passage. 

 In so doing they should not forget the usual error of Gallego's latitudes (Xote V. of the Geo- 

 graphical Appendix). 



