, 1913-07-16

ed almost Impossible on several lie. dlnT fa-
ciic routes: and how at last the problems
were solved by giftel men with some share
OF the geninS Of Vlsco Nuhaz lie Balboa.
We will first TAKE the west coast Of South
America. It is we'll known by what painful
degrees P.zarro's pilot, Bartolome RUIZ,
brought the rul HESS invader along the coast.
How, on the Isle of Gallo, only SIX cen men
could be found to stand by him and continue
the enterprise, owing to the starvation and
hardships. But VIII N the voyage had to
be con.inued from Cailao to Chlle it became
even more tedious and difficult. There was
a constant so Dth wind and al Antarctic cur
rent, since called the Humboldt current. It
was easier to 90 from Peru to Chile by land
over the vast desert of AtacAma than by sea.
JUAN Bnutista de Pnsteue, d GenOese pilot,
was looked upon us one Of the best seamen
on 9fwest coast vet when In 1547 he was
sent to Chile to take the news of Gonznlo
Pizarro's rebellion to Pedro de Vallivia, the
voyage occupied eight mouths, anchoring
every night.
Ten years later when the Spaniards in
Chile were hard pressed by the Araucnnian
Indians, and sorely in need of reinforce
ments, it was the same story. Ten ships
sailed from CalIao under the command Of
Don GarciN Hurtado de Mendoza, afterwards
Marquis of Canete and n famous vlcerOy OF
Peru He had with him the poet Alfonso
q ErcilIa, who sang the story Of the voyage.
Slowly the ships began to move with PEN
mons and streamers from every mast head
and every yard arm. The wind filed the
sails, SAGE 5, fa!conets and falcons resOunded,
and San Lorenzo point was passed. Then
there was another tale to tell. Austen blows
full in their faces, and they run under the
land md opcjor NOT 9N p,ilaO from EolllO
Next day they start again without the pen
mons aud falcons and falconets,
'T1en Auster meets them in the face,
Each ship must alter course apace,
And strive to meet the adverse sea
While furious Auster drives alec.
The fleet for refuge seeks the land
For Chincha's port was close ut hand.
Again they venture from the shore
Off Nasca's point to stop once more.
At noon they face the southern gales
And to heir fury show their sails j."
and SO on, anchoring every night, until after
many months they at length reached Pence,
the port of their destination IN Chile.
The sailor who discovered the way south
without all these delays, certainly perform
ed u very grent service. His name was
Juan Fernandez. [ believe that he was %
QatlN6 Ol MOSu6F. he ~ AISb uShIQ VI
coming from Guatemala with the invader
Alvarado. He was condemned tC death by AL
magro, but Pizurro, who appreciated his value
as a pilot, granted him a pardon.
This very able seaman thought the matter
out and formed his conclusion. The date
of his voyage was, | believe, in 1853. He
ran out from Callao before the trade wind,
working to the south until he encountered
the weoterlies, and running before them into
Valparaiso He performed the voyage in
twenty days discovering the two islands of
Masutierra and Masafuera on his way, ever
since known as Juan Fernandez, made
famous in after years as the abode of Alex
ander Selkirk. The feat Of seamanship on
the part of Juan Fernandez won for him
very full Off cial recognition. 1t was indeed
a most important dicovery. He received
II grant of land in the lovely valley Of Quillo-
ia in Chile, and though advanced i'll years
he took to himself q young wife named
Francisco de Soria. He was eighty when
bis son Diego was born, and his descendants
were still living at Quillota when I was
there.
(To be contimuedl