of the approach of any ships, and prevent them from proceeding through the strait, if they were enemies' ships, by retaining continually in the harbour two ships prepared for such an event; these should cross the course of the vessel, endeavouring to pass between the two bastions; and if she had to wait for the tide, they might delay and embarrass her while the fortresses are cannonading and sinking her; for it must be mentioned, that though many ships might come together, not more than two or three at once could pass through the channel: and if we should wish to have a look out to the South Sea, (though I do not think that necessary at present,) the strait has two high mountains, one on the coast of Asia, the other on that of America, which look one to another, and both of them adjoining to the fortress and watch-towers; and these, commanding a view over the two coasts in opposite directions, each might give notice of all the vessels sailing in the South Sea. By which means this strait might be well defended, and the Spanish alone might navigate it, and enjoy all the great advantages it holds out; for in truth I know of no place yet discovered which thus holds communication with almost all the countries of the world; for from this strait we may sail to all of them; and thus we may presume that in course of time it would prove a most powerful and rich settlement.

The entrance to the strait on the north side is most difficult to be discovered, because its coast runs east and west, and the two sides formed by the strait close one over the other; and as its entrance and the turns it makes are described to run north-east and south-west, it cannot be seen from the open sea, and it is therefore not surprising that it has escaped the notice of those who sought it. When we arrived there we did not discover it for some days, during which we were wandering up and down that coast, under the direction of the pilot, Juan Martinez, a Portugueze and a native of Algarve, an old man of great

experience; I found, however, that he was ignorant of the landmarks of these mountains, (which I copied for another voyage, if I should undertake it, which I think of doing); for although we knew the strait was to be found in 60° of latitude in the extensive coast running east and west, it occasioned us great doubt, as it appeared to the pilot that we had not arrived near the strait within one hundred leagues according to his reckoning of the ship's course, and to me it seemed that we were already near it, as it fell out; for, going in a boat to coast along the shores of the sea, the same current carried me through the strait, so that it was discovered, The reason of my conjecturing that we had arrived at the strait, and were close upon it, was occasioned by the strong currents we found there, running from the land and returning to it; they were so strong that at times, when in the open sea and at some distance from the coast, we found ourselves close upon it, and at other times, being near the land, we found ourselves in the open sea.

On the land close to the strait is a very high peak of a lofty mountain on the coast of Asia of a white colour; this peak is rugged and apparently inaccessible; on its highest point are three large trees which, when viewed from the north, are seen very distinctly one from another, and on each side of this high peak the mountains present the ap. pearance of two ravines, easily perceived. One league from the mouth of the strait on the west side there is a high and steep rock, which is surrounded by the sea, and when the tide is low I think it may be distant from the coast four picas. At the eastern side of the entrance to the strait there is a large and beautiful river of fresh water and many trees on its banks, from which we watered our ship. Here is also a good sheltering place formed by two great rocks, which we found in this place. The mountains visible on the coast of Asia from the north side are very high indeed, being perceptible from the North Sea, having some very high trees growing on them, which seem to be mostly

pines; the mountains on the coast of America are lower and their trees are less, but on neither side do they appear to bear fruit.

In the harbour where our ship anchored, namely, the one mentioned as being at the entrance of the strait on the south side, we remained from the commencement of April to the middle of June; when a large vessel of eight hundred tons burden came there from the South Sea in order to pass through the strait, wherefore we put ourselves on our guard; but having come to an understanding with one another, I found them willing to give us some of the merchandise they carried, the greater part of which evidently consisted of articles similar to those manufactured in China, such as brocades, silks, porcelain, feathers, precious stones, pearls, and gold. These people seemed to be Hanseatics who inhabited the Bay of St. Nicholas or the Port of St. Michael. In order to understand each other, we were forced to speak Latin; those of our party who were acquainted with that language talking with those on board the ship who understood it. They did not seem to be Catholics, but Lutherans; they said they came from a very large city little more than one hundred leagues from the strait, and, though I cannot well remember its name, I think they called it Robr, or some such name, which they said had a good harbour and a navigable river, and was subject to the great Khan, as it belonged to Tartary, and that in that port they had left another ship belonging to their country. We could not learn more from them, for they acted with great caution and little confidence, being fearful of our party; wherefore we separated from them, and having left them near the strait in the North Sea, we set sail towards Spain, We had reason to think these people Hanseatics because, as they live in latitude 72°, it is easy and very advantageous to them to navigate this strait.

Having thus given a full account of the particulars of this voyage, and of the disadvantages which may be the

consequence of not following it up, it may be proper to give some account of the things needful to be provided by any person undertaking this voyage, and of the expenses which would be incurred by the necessary preparations.

List of Necessaries and of the Expenses of this Voyage.

In the first place there must be provided three ships; the principal vessel of one hundred and fifty tons burden, and the other two each one hundred, and these must be constructed with certain divisions in the hold, according to a plan which shall be given in due time. By this contrivance a vessel may be preserved from sinking even though a leak should spring in her bottom, because that division alone would be filled with water in which the damage occurred, and not any of the others, as the partitions would all be caulked; and even supposing the vessel should receive some damage between wind and water, the water will run out again at the same place in which it entered, as I am convinced of, by the experience of the ship in which I made this voyage. These ships should be cross-ribbed and lined with lead, having many knees and bolts, the heads of which must be closely let into the wood. The lower part of these vessels should be flat and well ballasted: being constructed in this manner, any one of the vessels will lie close to the wind and safe though situated near a lee shore, which is the greatest danger in which a ship can be placed; for these ships are very weatherly, and will lie within five points of the compass; and if by mischance they should happen to run aground on some sand-bank, which might happen in sailing through unknown seas, they would be got off with more ease than ordinary vessels; from having their bottoms flat they would not upset, and might hope for assistance from their companions in the open sea. It would be proper likewise to carry out two boats, one of them completely equipped, and the other capable of being so in case of necessity, in

event of the first being lost; and these must carry out oars, that they may better come up to their ships in all weathers, or perform other service which may be required; for this bark must sail near the coast within sight of the three ships, which must be always separated from each other four leagues at sea, and must give them notice of any remarkable circumstances which may appear on the coast, and therefore it is advisable that its commander be a man of intelligence, courageous, cautious, and trustworthy; this boat must be large enough to contain twenty butts of water in case of necessity; which together with the three ships and the cutter in frame, all of them fit for sea and well stored, will cost eight thousand ducats.

It would also be advisable to carry out in these ships six pieces of cannon, for as these ships must be very strong they can well sustain them; and also twelve lesser pieces; which eighteen pieces of cannon must be divided between the three ships, and will cost one thousand five hundred ducats. Also two hundred muskets, at three ducats each, will cost six hundred ducats. Moreover one hundred and fifty arquebusses, if it should be necessary to go on shore, at two ducats each, would cost three hundred ducats. Pikes, gunpowder, lead, fireworks, ropes, pumps, balls for the cannon and other ammunition, would come to seven hundred ducats. There must be three pilots, prudent, active men, and Spaniards, with their mates, and twenty-four good seamen, who must be divided between the three ships, who will return expert from this voyage, and may be the pilots of this passage: and finally, there must be employed two hundred men, and if possible the greater part must be seamen, because when it is necessary a sailor can serve as a soldier, but on no occasion can a soldier perform the duties of a mariner; all of whom must be divided in this manner: eighty men in the captain's ship, and in each of the other ships fifty men; and the twenty remaining in the bark, that if there should be occasion to make use of the oar, there may be people ready for that purpose ;-and