The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-12-07

Islands, near the position of this group, before he
sailed on his third voyage in the South Pacific
Ocean. lie was careful in selecting all the works,
maps and charts that could be procured of all
proceeding navaga.ors, Spanish, French, German
and Portuguese and be had educated, scientific
men connected with hsxpedtion. 1t would be
almost impossible to omit possessing and seeing
the older Spanish charts, containing the dscov-
cries of Gaetano Mendana, Mendoza and Quros
it would certainly be most unpardonabe
omission in a navigator setting out on voyage
of discovery
The discoveries of Gaetano were known in the
latter part of the 10th century and we're familiar
in England when Captain Cook sailed on his
third voyage. In work We have before us at
the present time by Charles Theodore Middleton,
Published in London in III, entitled new and
complete system of Geography iD two volumes
quarto, there are three maps, or which the posi-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands, is laid down with
the same approximation to correctness as the
Spanish charts and probably copied from them.
The latitude is correct, the longitude little too
far to the east except Kauai, the land discovered
by Mendana which is in the correct position. The
Hawaiian Islands were visited by Captain Cook
in I77S the alleged date of the discovery by him
one year afterthe publication of Mlddletons maps
He may not have seen the maps, but the pre-
sumption is strong, that he was familiar with
those charts from which Mi dleton copied.
We have also before us the extensive geograph-
cal work of professor James Playfair published
in Edenburgh, in 1874. in six volumes qaarto. On
pages 83s and 639. of vol 6 we find the follownf
| Snadpich Islands lie between 10 and % % IS
n. latitude and between 154o Al and l6l
w. longitude They were first discovered by
Gaetano Spanish navigator, in 1872 He then
proceeds to describe them with some accuracy.
The author, man of emnence and ability, did
not ever ascribe the discovery to Captain Cook,
but regarded the question of discovery as com
.pletey settled In the London edition of AnsoDs
voyages, published in I7SO, the position of Las
Mo9jos, is approximately laid down on the map,
and there is no doubt, but further research would
bring to light. earlier and more iudutabe testi-
mony. Arson himself, sailed almost in sight oil
these Islands.
The early Spanish navagators, were the pic.
neers of discovery in Pacific Ocean. Mendo
"a discovered the Marquesas in 1895, they were
visited by Cook in 1774. Gaetano discovered
those Islands in 1912; They were right in the
path of the gaaeOns from Acapulco, by way O
Guam to Manila, and there is no doubt but they
passed near them every voyage ; but jealousy and
exclusiveness prevented them from making thf
fact known to the rest of the world. Quros saw
them in 1606 and Cook visited them in ITS anc
1879.
There are Hawaiian traditions of vessels pass
ing these Islanas in ancient times, and also of ont
being cast away pear Kealakeakua bay on Haw
ali, and of white man and woman being cast oil
shore at Napoopoo, who intermarried with tht
ralves, aad whose descendants can be point
ed ont in the light complicated and yellow halreC
natives in that vicinity. In about the year 74O
the King of Oahu, on his passage to 1lolokai, il
canoe, passed ship. Was not this Spanisl
galIeon There are also traditions of boats bein,
cast away on the Islands, and Of the landing o
white men, one of whom afterwards became
priest in Hawaii. The natives call him Paao
evidently the Pablo, Of the Spanish. All thes
traditions point to the discovery of these Is
lands, before the visit of Captain Cook. Their
is another argument which has some force. Irol
and its uses were known 70 the natives, and
sword blade existed on these Islands, at the tim,
of the visit of Captain Cook. Grant that nail
and other small articles of iron might float to th,
Islands on pieces of wrecks yet there is not mucl
probability that a sword blade would be thus con
veyed. Again there are several customs ant
some words in the Hawaiian language whcl
bear close affinity to the Spanish, aud point t,
an early communication with that people.
We conclude as commenced by Saying tina
we do not wish to pluck board from the brow 0
Captain Cook; but vindicating the truth of history
will not detract from his well earned fame