30 



SARMIENTO S COLONY. 



1584. 



the neighbourhood, and to the northward of Cape Virgins.* 

 After much opposition from theDukeof Alvaf and other power- 

 ful people, he succeeded in convincing the King of the expedi- 

 ency of fortifying the shores of the First Narrow, and forming 

 several establishments within the Strait, to prevent the passage 

 of strange ships, to the prejudice of the King's colonies in Chile 

 and Peru ; for at that time the passage round Cape Horn was 

 not known. Accordingly, an Expedition was prepared, con- 

 sisting of twenty- three vessels, under the joint command of 

 Diego Florez de Valdez and Sarmiento ; the former being 

 appointed Captain-general of the fleet, and of the coast of 

 Brazil ; and the latter, Captain-general of the Strait of Magal- 

 haens, and Governor of all the Establishments that should be 

 formed within it. 



Of the twenty-three ships which sailed from Spain, five only 

 reached the entrance of the Strait ; and these, after experienc- 

 ing many difficulties from bad weather and foul winds, returned 

 to Rio de Janeiro to refit, where Sarmiento met four vessels 

 which had been sent from Spain to his succour. His colleague 

 and General in chief, Florez, who had deserted the Expedition, 

 did all in his power to impede Sarmiento, to the latest moment 

 of his stay at the Brazils. At last, however, five ships, com- 

 manded by Ribera, and manned by five hundred and thirty 

 men,]: sailed ; and, without encountering further loss or deten- 

 tion, arrived off the Strait in December (1584), and soon 

 after reached an anchorage, between the First and Second 

 Narrows. 



Ribera would go no further ; but landed about three hun- 

 dred men, under Sarmiento. A city was marked out, and 

 named Jesus,§ in a valley well provided with water. The 



* See Burney, ii. p. 45, for a fuller account ; also id. 71. 



t Who made a remark on the occasion, which became proverbial, 

 " that if a ship carried out only anchors and cables, sufficient for her 

 security against the storms in that part of the world, she would go well 

 laden." Burney Coll. vol. ii. 45. 



I Burney, ii. 51. 



§ The situation of " Jesus " must have been about half-way between 

 the First and Second Narrow, near the point named in the chart N. S. de 



Valle, 



