1583. 



SARMTENTO'S EXPEDITION. 



29 



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 v/estern 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 

 vv^ith 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. 



t Id. ].c. 



