Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-09-24

right to embark such quantity of goods board
the Manila ship, as the tunnage of their bales
amounted to; or If they chuse not to be concerned
In trade themselves, they had the power of selling
this privilege to others
The galleon, her cargo on board generally
weighed from the mole of Cabite," the port Of
Manila, in July, taking advantage of the westerly
monsoon to blow her out to sea. The waters to
the south of Luzon were troublesome and 1t was
often toward the end Of August before she got
through San Bernardino strait and clear Of the
land. Then she stood away "to the northward of
the east in order to get into the latitude OF 3Oodd
degrees" There he expected to get a westerly
WIND, before which ito run away for the coast of
CALIFORNIA" Under instructions from the king the
captain had to turn to the as soon as the west
wind encountered
The discriminating reader has doubtless already
asked himself this question: "With 500 hands
aboard and the voyage lasting at least six months
how did the galleon get fresh water? Walter SAYS
Indeed their method of procuring it was extreme
~ slngular and deserves very particular recital"
Here's his recital:
When the Manila ship first put to sea- they took
on board a much greater quantity of water than
could be slowed between decks, and the Jars which
contain 1t were hung all about the shrouds and
stays SO as to exhibit at distsnce vars o odd
appearance. Yet it is sufficiently obvious that six
three months store of water could never
be slowed in a ship so loaded. by any management
whatever and therefore without some other sup
ply, this navigation could have been performed
In short their only method of recruiting their wa
ter by the rains, which they meet with be-
tween the ATTITUDES of 80 and 40 degrees North
and which they were always prepared to catch.
For this purpose they took to with them a
great number of mats which they placed slopingly
against the gunwale, whenever the rain descended;
these mats extended from of the ship to
the other and their lower edges rested on a large
split bamboo, that all the water which fell on
the mats drained into the bamboo and by this as
a trough, conveyed into JAR and this method
of supplying their water, however accidental and
extraordinary 1T may at first appear, was
known fail them.
The Spaniards were exceedingly cautious with
the Manila galleon. They never carried the main
sail at night and any excessive breeze" was an
excuse to lie to- So the galleon slowly plowed
along before the steady westerly wind keeping her
latitude In the course of time she sighted "plant
floating on the sea"-the vast beds Of kelp along
the California coast. ION the first discovery of the
plant the whole ships company chanted a solemn
TIE Deum, esteeming the difficulties and hazards of
their passage to be at an end"
Thereupon the general gradually edged in to-
ward the California coast. There were pueblOs
presidos and missions along the California coast
in those days. but the missionaries had established
station near Cape San Lucas, at the southern
extremity Of Lower California. And the general
kept sharp lookout for the signal fires Of the
missionaries. If the fires told him the coast was
clear of pirates" the general and his officers went
ashore for the missionaries made wine that was
"biehlv esteemed" Back aboard ship, the general
shaped his course for Cape Corrientes on the
Mexican coast from which he "coasted along to
Acapulco"
Acapulco in those days had good harbor, but the
town was wretched place. 1t was destitute of
fresh water and almost deserted except at
the time of the galleon's arrival and stay Then 1t
was crowded by traders from all parts of Mexico
The galleon's cargo was unloaded with all pos
sible haste She was made ready for the return
voyage quickly, the kings orders required her
sailing-except in time of dire emergency-be-
fore April /.
The galeon, upon leaving Acapulco steered for
the latitude Of ID or ID and ran that parallel