And as the returning back-is much facilitated by the weftern winds;,
I doubt not but a voyage might; be made from Falkland's Iflcs to
Juan Fernandes, and back again, in a little more than two -months.
This, even. in time o f peace, might be of great coufequence to
this nation 5 and, in time of war, would make us mailers of.
thefe leas.
And as all difcoveries o f this kind, though extremelyrhonourabla
to thofe wha dire# and promote them,, may yet- be carried, on at :
an inconliderable expence, finee frnall vefl’cls are much the prcn
pereft to be employed in this feryice;. it were, to be wilhed, that-
the whole coaft o f Patagonia■, Terra, del-, Fttego,. and Staten-land*..
were carefully furveyed, and the numerous channels,.,roads, .and
harbours, with which they abound, were,accurately examined. .This
might open to us facilities o f paffing into the Pacifick Ocean, which-
as yet we may be unacquainted-with, and, would render all that
fbuthern navigation infinitely fecurer -than., at prefent; particularly,
an■ exadt draught o f . the Weft-coaft, of Patagonia, from the.
Streights of Magellan to the Spanijh fottlements, might perhaps,,
furnilh us.with better and more convenient ports forrefrelhment,..
and better fituated for the purpofes either o f war or commerce, and.
above a fortnight’s fail nearer to Falkland's Ifland .than the I hand,
of Juan Fernandes. The difeovery of this coaft hath formerly been,
thought of fuch confequence, by reafon o f its, neighbourhood to,
die Araucos and other,Chilian Indians, who are,generally at war, or,'
at leaft on ill terms, with their Spanijh, neighbours, that. Sir John.
Narbormgh was purpofely fitted out, in. the,reign of King Charles. .
XI. to.furvey the Streights of Magellan, the neighbouring coaft of,.
Patagonia,., and the, Spanijh. ports on that frontier ;,with diredlions>
i f poffible, to procure fome intercourfe with the Chilian Indians
andtoeftablilh a commerce and a.lafting correfpondence with them...
His Majefty’s views in employing Sir John Narborough.. in this expedition
were not folely the advantage he might hope to receive,
from the alliance of thefe favages, in reftraining and intimidating
the Crown of Spain ; but he conceived, that, independent o f thofe-
motives, the immediate traffick with, thefe Indians might prove extremely
R O U N D T H E W O R L D ,
tremely advantageous to the Englifh Nation : for it is well known,
that, at the firft difeovery of Chili by the Spaniards, it abounded
with vaft quantities of gold, much beyond what it has at any time
produced fiu.ee-.. it has been in their pofleflion. And hence it has-
been generally believed, that the richeft mines are carefully concealed,
by the Indians, as well knowing that the difeovery .of them
would : only excite ill the Spaniards a greater thirft for conqueft-
and tyranny, and would render their own independence mope pre- -
carious. But,.with relpedl to their commerce with the EngliJbJ.
thefe reafons would no longer influence them; finee it wouldrbe
in our power to furnilh them with arms and ammunition o f all
kinds, of which they are extremely defirous, together with* many
other conveniencies-, which, their intercourfe with the. .Spaniards
taught them to relifti. They would then, in all probability,-open.:
their mines, and gladly embrace a traffick- o f fuch, mutual conve—-
lfience to both Nations ; .for then their gold, infteadof proving an -
incitement to enflave them, would procure them weapons, to aflert,’
their liberty, to chaftifa their tyrants;,and to fecure themfelyes. for
ever from the Spanijh. yoke.; whilft,-.with ourafliftance, and under 1
our prote#ion„ they , might become a confiderable people, and
might fecure to .us that wealth,, .which, formerly by the Houfe-of:'
Aujlria,. and lately by the Houfe of Bourbon, has. been moft mif- -
chievoufly lavilhed in the purfuit of univerfal Monarchy.-.,
It is true, Sir John Narborougb did not.fucceed in opening this,,
commerce, which, in appearance, promifed fo,many advantages.to >
this Nation.. However, his difappointment was merely, accidental;
and his tranfadlioijs upon; that, coaft (befides the many, valuable -
improvements he. furni.fhedto geography and navigation) are; rather
an encouragement for future trials o f this kind, , than any objgdlion :
agaipft them j -his principal misfortune being.the lofingcompany.of s'
a fmall bark which attended him, and having fome of his people.;'
trapanned at Baldhuia. However, - it appeared,; b y the precautions^,
and fear of the Spaniards, that, they were fully: convinced of the--;:
practicability of the fcheme he was fent to. execute, and extremely.,
alarmed :