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the neighbourhood, and to the northward of Cape Virgins.*
After much opposition from theDukeof A lv a f and other powerful
people, he succeeded in convincing the King of the expediency
of fortifying the shores of the First Narrow, and forming
several establishments within the Strait, to prevent the passage
of strange ships, to the prejudice of the King’s colonies in Chile
and Feru ; for at that time the passage round Cape Horn was
not known. Accordingly, an Expedition was prepared, consisting
of twenty-three vessels, under the joint command of
Diego Florez de Valdez and Sarmiento; the former being
appointed Captain-general of the fleet, and of the coast of
Brazil; and the latter, Captain-general of the Strait of Magalhaens,
and Governor of all the Establishments that should be
formed within it.
Of the twenty-three ships which sailed from Spain, five only
reached the entrance of the Strait; and these, after experiencing
many difficulties from bad weather and foul winds, returned
to Bio de Janeiro to refit, where Sarmiento met four vessels
which had been sent from Spain to his succour. His colleague
and General in chief, Florez, who had deserted the Expedition,
did aU in his power to impede Sarmiento, to the latest moment
of his stay at the Brazils. At last, however, five ships, commanded
by Ribera, and manned by five hundred and thirty
men,j: sailed ; and, without encountering further loss or detention,
arrived off the Strait in December (1584), and soon
after reached an anchorage, between the First and Second
Narrows.
Bibera would go no further; but landed about three hundred
men, under Sarmiento. A city was marked out, and
named Jesus,§ in a valley well provided with water. The
• See Burney, ii. p. 45, for a fuller a c c o u n t; also id. 71.
+ Who made a remark on the occasion, which became proverbial,
“ th a t if a ship carried out only anchors and cables, sufficient for her
security against the storms in th a t p a rt of the world, she would go well
laden.” Burney Coll. vol. ii. 45.
J Burney, ii. 51.
§ Th e situation of “ Je su s” must have been about half-way between
the F ir s t and Second Narrow, n ear the point named in the ch art N. S. de
Valle,
ships were blown away to sea, leaving the colonists very destitute
; fortunately, however, they were enabled to return, but
were four times, afterwards, obliged to put to sea, from stress
of weather. On the last return, one of the ships, La Trinidad,
was run on shore. The ardour of Ribera being damped by
repeated misfortunes, he returned to Spain, without the knowledge
or consent of Sarmiento, leaving, for the use of the colony,
only one ship, the Maria.
IVhile unloading the Trinidad, the Spaniards were attacked
by Indians, whom they dispersed.
Sarmiento, after making the necessary arrangements at Jesus,
set out by land with one hundred men, to go to Foint St.
Anna,* the ship Maria being ordered to follow. On the
journey, the sufferings of the party were very great, as well
from the fatiguing nature of the march, as from their being
harassed by the natives, with whom they had an engagement,
in which one was killed, and ten men were wounded. A
mutiny among his people then broke out, which was quelled
by assistance from the ship. At last they reached their destination,
and founded, with the usual solemnities, the city of King
Fhilip (or San Felipe).
At the latter end of March, while preparing habitations, the
winter set in so suddenly, that for fifteen days it did not cease
to snow. Sarmiento, then, after quelling a mutiny which had
broken out afresh among the soldiers, embarked with thirty
men to visit the first encampment at Jesus, and to superintend
the erection of forts in the Narrow; but upon reaching the
anchorage, a gale of wind forced him to sea, and, lasting twenty
days, obliged him (with his people blinded and frost-bitten)
to bear up for Rio de Janeiro.
Here his ship was stranded; upon which he chartered a
vessel to convey flour to the Strait, and went himself to Fer-
nambuco, to procure large boats for carrying supplies to his
Valle, where some peaked elevations, dividing- rallies ne ar the coast line,
are conspicuous. The Beagle anchored there, and found plenty of fresh
water.
* Close to P o rt Famine.
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