QUIROS RETURNS TO SPAIN. 



341 



thatched and low, and they of a black complexion. There are 

 earthquakes, — sign of a mainland." The Spaniards found it 

 impossible to make peace with the natives, and the few days 

 which they spent there were passed in wrangling and blood- 

 shed. 



The achievements and discoveries of Quiros properly end here. 

 His ships were separated, and his own crew disabled by the effects 

 of poisonous fish which they had eaten. He called a council of 

 his officers, and asked their opinion upon a choice of courses, — 

 a prosecution of the voyage to China, or a return to Mexico. 

 The latter was decided upon. Quiros arrived at Acapulco nine 

 months after his departure from Callao. 



He soon returned to Spain, where he presented a memorial 

 to Philip III. upon the results of his voyage, and the advantage 

 of further efforts in the same direction. His grand argument 

 in favor of the theory that he had discovered an Austral con- 

 tinent was drawn from the statements of Pedro, — the only one 

 of the four kidnapped savages of Taumaco who had remained 

 on board. A subsequent memorial shows the fate with which 

 all his representations to Philip met: — "I, Captain Pedro Fer- 

 nandez de Quiros, say that with this I have presented to your 

 majesty eight memorials touching the country of Australia In- 

 cognita, without to this time any resolution being taken with 

 me, nor any reply made me, nor hope given to assure me that 

 I shall be despatched, — having now been fourteen months in this 

 court, and having been fourteen years engaged in this cause 

 without pay or any other advantage in view but the success of 

 it alone ; wherewith, and through infinite contradictions, I have 

 gone by land and sea twenty-two thousand leagues, spending all 

 my estate and incommoding my person, suffering so many and 

 such terrible things that even to myself they appear incredible : 

 and all this has come to pass, that this work of so much good- 

 ness and benevolence should not be abandoned. In whose name, 

 and all for the love of God, I beg your majesty not to neglect 



