48 DAHLORBN, THE DISCOVERY OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



In the same year, on 6 April, fifteen Dominicans embark at Acapulco. As the 

 departure took place so late, they had occasion to fear storms and contrary winds. Fire 

 broke out on board, which destroyed part of the provisions; and quarrels broke out 

 amongst the crew, so that one party fortified themselves in the bow and the other in the 

 stern; but the holy fathers succeeded in reconciling them. The carelessness of the navi- 

 gatörs almost caused the ship to be löst on one occasion; on another, the vessel was 

 almost löst on some islands inhabited by cannibals. On 21 July they reached the Philip- 

 pines. (Bl. & Rob. XXX, p. 129.) 



Pedro de Unamunu, who had succeeded Francisco Gali in the command and was 

 to pursue his explorations, had, against express orders, sailed from Manila to Macao. 

 From the island of Macarera, situated one league south of that town, he sails on 12 July 

 1587 with the frigate "Nuestra Seiiora de Buena Esperanza". The course was laid east 

 between Formosa and Luzon; on 16 July they sighted the Babyanas Islands, situated in 

 those parts, and on 28 July two small uninhabited islands were seen in 25 l j° lat. These 

 are called Islas sin Pfovecho. In an ENE. course they proceed to search for the unknown 

 islands, Rica de Oro, which is said to lie 450 leagues from the Babyanas in 31° lat., and 

 Rica de Platå, situated a further distance of 70 leagues towards the east, in 33° to 34° 

 lat. From 19 to 22 August the} 7 sail in these degrees of latitude; but no land can be 

 discovered. With similar unsuccess they search for the Islas de Armenio, presumably 

 the same as the previously mentioned Armenicäo. The fruitless search for these islands 

 led Unamunu to give it as his opinion that at least Rica de Oro and Rica de Platå did not 

 exist, but had obtained a place on the charts solely on the ground of vague hearsay. He 

 then continues his course towards the east, reaches the coast of California in 35 7*° lat., 

 and concludes his voyage at Acapulco on 22 November 1587. The distance from Baby- 

 anas to California in a straight line he estimated at 1550 leagues. (Relacion del viaje y 

 navegaciön que el capitan Pedro de Unamunu ha hecho. . . MS. in Archivo de Indias, 

 communicated by Dr. Bruno Rolf.) 



The "Santa Ana", Captain Tomas de Alzola, sails from Cavite on 24 June 1587. 

 When they reach the southern point of California, Cape San Lucas, he is captured, on 4 

 November, af ter six hours fighting, by Thomas Cavendish. The crew and passengers, 

 to the number of 190, are put ashore on the coast of California, and the ship is burnt 

 by the English. (R. Hakluyt, Voyages. New ed. Vol. XI. Glasgow 1904, pp. 324 

 —327. Colin. III, pp. 384 et sequ.) 



1588. Fray Juan Cobo and five other Dominicans sail from Acapulco in a wretched 

 little ship, which immediately begins to leak. The pilot went straight to the Fathers, 

 and både them commend the ship to God; for, if the prayers of good men did not sa ve it, 

 it would be certain to f ounder in the first little storm. One night a great storm arose 

 and they ran before the wind. Fray Luis Gandallo turned to the Virgin of the Rosary. 

 She appeared to him in a vision and promised her aid. When the pilot came in calling 

 out, "Fathers! east some relics into the sea, for the love of God! Recite some litanias, 

 that the Lord may have compassion upon us! I promise them a lighted lantern", Father 

 Luis replied that they should all be safe. They east into the sea a relic of Saint Mary 



