1583. SARMIENTO’S EXPEDITION. 99 
Transit, and Altitude circle, were set up; but from the very 
unfavourable state of the weather, and the interference of other 
occupations, I was only enabled to procure a series of zenith 
distances of the sun, and stars, for the latitude. 
Port Famine, a name well known to all who have interested 
themselves about the Strait of Magalhaens, was selected by 
Sarmiento as the most convenient place for the site of an 
establishment formed, at his suggestion, by Philip II. King of 
Spain. 
The voyage of Sir Francis Drake through the Strait into 
the Pacific, and his successes against the Spanish colonies and 
trade on the western side of the continent of America, induced 
the Viceroy of Lima to send an Expedition to pursue the “ Cor- 
sair,” with orders to fight and take him, dead or alive.* This 
Expedition, commanded by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, who 
had already been engaged twice with Drake, consisted of two 
ships, containing in all two hundred armed men, sailors and 
soldiers ; a force which was considered sufficient to ensure the 
capture.- 
The Strait of Magalhaens being the most likely place to 
meet with Drake, Sarmiento was ordered to proceed through 
it, and take the opportunity of exploring its coasts. 
All this he performed in a manner highly creditable, as well 
for the excellent description handed down in his unpretending 
journal, as for the enterprising zeal, and steady perseverance, 
shown among difficulties of no trifling nature. To his accounts 
of various places there will be frequent occasion to refer. Our 
object, at present, is to give a short account of the Colony. 
Sarmiento sailed from Peru (1583), and entered the Strait 
from the Pacific. After experiencing many serious difficulties, 
and escaping imminent dangers, in the western part of the 
Strait, where the climate is so rigorous and the country so deso- 
late, it was not surprising that he should become enraptured 
with the verdant, and picturesque appearance of the shores to 
the eastward of Cape Froward, and with the open country in 
* Sarmiento’s Voyage, p. 25. eid alec’ 
