CHAPTER XI. 

 The Cartographical Evidences. 



B. The Spanish Charts of the Pacific Ocean. 



In the preceding account of the history of cartography, from Ortelius and Plancius 

 to Delisle, the Spanish charts of the Pacific have not been considered. It remains to 

 follow the development of that special branch of cartography during the same period and 

 to a låter date as far as our present topic requires. 



Unf ortunately the material available for this investigation is extremely scanty for the 

 earlier time. It is indeed evident that both lines of development have a common origin in 

 Spanish maps; bnt vve know nothing as to the appearance of these maps. We can perceive 

 traces of influence from them in Plancius; bnt. as has been said above (p. 157), we must 

 leave undecided the question whether his representation of the islands of the Pacific is 

 based on his own adaption of Spanish sources, or whether it already existed in the 

 prototypes of the same origin that he had before him. 



We may take it for granted that, as early as the sixteenth century, the Spanish 

 mariners drew up charts for guidance in the voyages between the Philippines and Mexico; 

 and we have definite evidence that the most eminent of the navigatörs of that time. 

 Andres de Urdaneta, did not neglect to put down on a chart the results of his extensive 

 experience. Fray Juan de Grijalva, in a work printed in 1624. says that Urdaneta. 

 after the conclusion of his famous journey in 1565. "made the chart, showing all their 

 winds, routes, points, and capes, so completely, that even today his chart is followed 

 without any additions, for it seems that on that chart the whole of this Arehipelago is 

 included'*. 1 It is true that the author was probably too lavish with his praise of the merits 

 of his brother Augustinian; and in particular one may well doubt that the chart needed 

 no alteration for so long a period as sixty years. It is beyond doubt, however, that the 

 chart long remained in use: auother Augustinian, Fray Juan de Medina, speaks of it in 



1 Cronica de la Orden de N. P. S. Augustin en lus Provincias de la Nueva Espaäa desde cl afio 

 de lf>riri hasta el de 1592. Mexico 1624. fol. 121 v". 



