stars were observed, having a small space between them, in which were two stars of inconsiderable size and lustre, which seemed to be at no great distance from the pole, by the smallness of the circle they described in their diurnal course.  When at the distance of 20 deg. from the south pole, they saw a high island to which they gave the name of Cipangue; and at 15 deg. another equally high, which they named Sinnodit.[4] They sailed in one gulf; or stretch of sea, at least 4000 leagues, and made their longitude, by estimation or reckoning, 120 deg.  W. from the place of their original departure.  By this time they drew near the equinoctial line, and having got beyond that into 13 deg.  N. latitude, they made for the cape called Cottigare by old geographers; but missing it in that old account of its latitude, they understood afterwards that it is in the latitude of 12 deg.  N.[5]

[Footnote 4:  The text is evidently here erroneous, as Magellan entered the Pacific Ocean in lat. 47 deg.  S. and there is not the smallest reason to suspect he had been forced into the latitudes of 70 deg. and 75 deg.  S. Instead therefore of the south pole, we ought probably to understand the equator.  As these two islands were uninhabited, the names given them must have been imposed by Magellan or his associates.  Cipangue is the name given to Japan by Marco Polo, and is of course a singular blunder.  The other is unintelligible, and the voyage is so vaguely expressed, as even to defy conjecture.—­E.]

[Footnote 5:  This cape Cottigare in the South Sea, in lat. 12 deg. or 13 deg.  N. is utterly unintelligible, unless it refer to the southern part of Guam, Guaham, or Goad, one of the Ladronea, which they soon discovered, and which is actually in 13 deg.  N.—­E.]

On the 6th March, 1521, they fell in with a cluster of islands, being then in lat. 12 deg.  N. and 146 deg. of west longitude from the place of their first setting out.[6] These islands were called by Magellan Islas de los Ladrones, or the islands of robbers, and are called in modern geography the Ladrones or Marian islands.  They here went on shore to refresh themselves, after all the fatigues and privations of their tedious voyage through the Pacific Ocean; but the thievish disposition of the islanders would not allow them any quiet repose, as they were continually stealing things from the ships, while the sick and worn-out mariners were endeavouring to refresh themselves on shore.  Resolving therefore to deliver themselves from the disturbance of these pilferers, they marched a small party of armed men into the interior of one of these islands, where they burnt some houses, and slew some of the natives.  But, though this correction awed them a little for the present, it did not mend their thievish disposition; for which reason they resolved to seek out some other place, where they might enjoy some repose in safety.

[Footnote 6:  By the reckoning in the text, the longitude of the Ladrone islands, which they now discovered, would be 151 deg. 25’ W. from Greenwich.  But their true longitude is 216 deg. 30’ W. Their latitude is between 13 deg. and 20 deg. 50’ N.—­E.]