420 L. HARGRAVE. 



inscribed on the face of a man at Auckland Point shows a 

 similarity between weather-worn sixes and eights, and 

 therefore between nines and eights. Also, the 46 that I 

 found at Woollahra Point might readily be interpreted as 

 48, except for the deeper indentation at the tail of the 6. 

 Therefore questionable figures in stone must give place to 

 the definite statement of 1596 in brass. Then we have the 

 1600 date that throws any connection with De Quiros and 

 Torres completely out of court, because De Quiros and 

 Torres arrived at the Great Bay of Santo on May 1, 1606; 

 and Torres alone at Orangerie Bay on August 10, 1606. 



Mr. Oollingridge informs us that after the death of 

 Mendana at Santa Cruz in 1595 the remnant of his disas- 

 trous expedition having repaired to the Philippine Islands, 

 returned to New Spain in the year 1596. Here, without 

 doubt, they poured into willing ears the story of the bold 

 course adopted by Lope de Vega. The immediate effect 

 then, as it would be now, was like a spark to gunpowder. 

 The "Santa Barbara" as we will call the tall caravel 

 selected, was rushed with volunteers, and made all speed 

 to the latitude and longitude where De Vega's ship was 

 last seen. They bore with them the all-but-certain know- 

 ledge that if they hauled their wind in that spot they would 

 strike the Great South Land and get a share of the wealth in 

 which Lope de Vega was wallowing. The rest seems plain. 

 Lope de Vega had found the goldless nature of the coast, 

 and passed north, either before the "Santa Barbara" was 

 piled up; or, he was too far to the east, say near Mast 

 Head Island, to effect a rescue. 



Mr. Oollingridge says, Santa Barbara was and is still the 

 patron saint of artillerymen, and it is easy to conceive how 

 her name would be associated with a piece of artillery or 

 a ship carrying artillery. A further consideration of this 

 point indicates that the "Santa Isabel," (De Vega's ship) 



