PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
131 
traditions of the natives, there cannot be a doubt of his having 
left the cats, although in his journal no mention is made pf his 
having done so. 
It seems very extraordinary that the natives of that island 
possess no traditionary accounts of Mendana’s having been there, 
for there cannot be a doubt as to the bay where he anchored; cap¬ 
tain Cook, although he has filched from it the name given by the 
Spaniards, identifies the place with that visited by Mend ana; and 
even if he had not acknowledged it to be the same, the similarity 
of their descriptions would put it beyond all doubt. He first 
says, “ on the 6th of April we discovered an island, tvhen we were 
“ in lat. 9°. 20'. and long. 138°. 14'. we were about nine leagues 
u distance from it. We soon discovered another, more extensive 
a than the former, and presently afterwards a third and a fourth, 
“ these were the Marquesas, discovered in 1595 by Mendana. 
u After various unsuccessful trials to come to an anchor, we came 
“ at last before Mendana’s port, and anchored in thirty-four fa* 
u thorns water, at the entrance of the bay.” After which he giyes 
the following description of the bay where he anchored. “ The 
* port of Madre de Dios, which was named Resolution Bay, is 
u situated not far from the middle of the west side of St. Chris- 
a tiana, under the highest land in the island. The south point of 
“ the bay is a steep rock, terminating in a peacked hill. The 
“north point is not so high, and rises in a more gentle slope. In 
a the bay are two sandy coves; in each of which is a rivulet of ex- 
w cellent water. For wooding and watering, the northern cove 
sc is most convenient. We saw here the little cascade mentioned 
“ by Quiras, Mendana’s pilot; but the village is in the other cove.” 
I conceive it unnecessary to insert the Spanish description of 
the bay, it is sufficient to show that captain Cook felt satisfied that 
this was the bay of La Madre de Dios , so named by Mendana, 
to convince every one that it was the same; it only seems strange 
that the natives should have no accounts of his having been there, 
although the period was also marked by the Spaniards with the 
blood pf their countrymen; two centuries, however, are to these 
islanders almost an eternity, and during the time that has elapsed 
some circumstance unknown to us may have obliterated their tra¬ 
ditions. 
VOL. II. 
