220 JOURNAL OF GALLEGO. 



the lands from each other.^ We could not see the end of it ; and 

 on account of the strong current we were unable to enter. We 

 accordingly passed on another four leagues, where we found a good 

 port: and in it I took the latitude, and found it to be 10^° south of 

 the equinoctial. It has an islet at the entrance which should be left 

 close on the starboard hand in entering the port. Two hundred 

 Indians came out and attacked us. To this port we gave the name 

 of La Asuncion, because we entered it on that day.^ This day we 

 sailed out and proceeded further along the coast to the south-east. 

 Close to the extremity of the island, we put into a small hay^ 

 where they discharged some arrows at us, and on our firing some 

 shots they left us. Quitting the small bay, we sailed as far as the end 

 of the island which is in 10^°.* It lies north-east and south-east with 

 the isle of Jesus, which is the first island we saw, and lies in 7°. 

 [With the other end of Malaita, which is to the north-east, and lies 

 east and west with Meta in 8°, it is 85 leagues. There is another 

 point in 7°, with which the Isle of Jesus lies north-east-by-north 

 135 leagues.^] 



"This island of Malaita has a length of 114 leagues. We did 

 not go to the north side, and for that reason we cannot say what is 

 its breadth. The island of Guadalcanal is very large. I do not 

 estimate its size, because it is a great land and half a year is needed 

 to sail along its shores.^ That we sailed along its length on the 

 north side for 130 leagues and did not reach the end, shows its 

 great size. Moreover, on the east'^ side of the extremity, the coast 

 trended to the west, where I saw a great number of fine towns.^ 



" From the extremity of this island of Malaita we saw another 

 island, which lies east and west from this cape 8 leagues, to which 

 we went, arriving in the night. We anchored in front of a town on 



1 This is without a doubt the Maramasiki Passage which cuts through the south-eastern 

 portion of Malaita. 



- Port Asuncion may, perhaps, be the large bay of Su Paina. 



3 Caleta in the Spanish. This anchorage may, perhaps, be identified with Su Oroha or 

 with one of the inlets or coves nearer to Cape Zelde, such as Te Oroha or Te Waina. 

 (" Pacific Islands : " vol. I. ; " Western Groups : " p. Gl, G2 ; "Admiralty publication," 1885.) 



^This latitude is not consistent with that given above for the port of Escondido, which, 

 according to the journal, lies more than half a degree to the north-west. 



-^ I have endeavoured unsuccessfully to get at the meaning of the two sentences enclosed 

 in brackets. 



"" Para andaUce es menestcr medio anno." 



7 This should be "west." 



®See Note VIII. in Geographical Appendix for remarks on th eexaggerated ideas as to the 

 size of this island.' 



