Magellan wintered at this place[157], and some men who were sent about twenty leagues into the interior brought a few natives to the ships, who were of a gigantic stature, being above three yards high.  After suffering much through cold, hunger, and continual fatigue, they at length reached the Cabo de las Virgines, in lat. 52 deg.  S. so named because discovered on the day of the 11,000 virgins.  Below this cape, they discovered the strait of which they were in search, being about a league wide.[158] In their progress, the strait was found in some places wider and in others narrower than its mouth.  The land on both sides was high, partly bare, and part covered with wood, among which were many cypress trees.  The mountains were covered with much snow, which made them appear very high.  Having advanced about 50 leagues into this strait, another was seen and Magellan sent one of his ships to explore it; but after waiting much beyond the time appointed for her return, he ordered the astrologer, Andrew Martin to erect a figure, who answered that she was gone back to Spain, and that the crew had confined the captain, Alvaro de Mesquita, for opposing that measure.  This was actually the case, and they were eight months on the voyage.  After this event, which gave much vexation to Magellan, he continued his voyage through the straits much against the inclination of his people, and at length got out into the southern Pacific Ocean with three ships, that commanded by Juan Serrano having been wrecked and the men saved with much difficulty.

[Footnote 157:  Though not directly so expressed in the text, Magellan appears to have wintered at Port St Julian.—­E.]

[Footnote 158:  Now called the Straits of Magellan from its discoverer.—­E.]

To escape from the excessive cold of the southern extremity of America, Magellan now shaped his course W.N.W. and when about 1500 leagues from the straits, he found an island in lat. 18 deg.  S. and another 200 leagues further on.  Having lost his computation for the Moluccas, he discovered several islands in lat. 15 deg. 30’ N. and at length came to the island of Subo in lat. 10 deg.  N. being about 12 leagues in circumference.  He was hospitably received here, and found the natives of so tractable a disposition, that the king and queen of the island, with their children and above 800 of the inhabitants were baptised.  This prince was at war with a neighbour, and was assisted by Magellan.  After two victories, Magellan was slain in a third battle on the 27th of April 1521, together with his astrologer and some others.  The baptised king now entered into an agreement with his enemies, and poisoned all the Christians who were on shore.  Those who remained on board, being too few in number to navigate the three ships, burnt one, and set sail with the other two, one of which was the famous Victory, commanded by Juan Sebastian Cano, being the first ship that