These grasses are called balsas ["rafts or floats"].  Also many perrillos are seen, and, in turn, all the various signs.  Then the coast is discovered, and it is very high and clear land.  Without losing sight of land, the ship coasts along it with the northwest, north-northwest, and north winds, which generally prevail on that coast, blowing by day toward the land, and by night toward the sea again.  With the decrease of the latitude and the entrance into a warm climate the island of Cenizas [ashes] is seen, and afterward that of Cedros [cedars].  Thence one sails until the cape of San Lucas is sighted, which is the entrance of [the gulf of] California.  From that one traverses the eighty leguas intervening to the islands of Las Marias and the cape of Corrientes ["currents"], which is on the other side of California in Val de Vanderas ["valley of banners"], and the provinces of Chametla.  Thence one passes the coast of Colima, Sacatul, Los Motines ["the mutinies"], and Ciguatanejo, and enters the port of Acapulco—­without having made a way-station or touched land from the channel of Capul in the Filipinas throughout the voyage.  The voyage usually lasts five months or thereabout, but often six and even more. [266]

By way of India, one may sail from the Filipinas to Espana, by making the voyage to Malaca, and thence to Cochin and Goa, a distance of one thousand two hundred leguas.  This voyage must be made with the brisas.  From Goa one sails by way of India to the cape of Buena Esperanca [Good Hope], and to the Terceras [i.e., Azores] Islands, and thence to Portugal and the port of Lisboa.  This is a very long and dangerous voyage, as is experienced by the Portuguese who make it every year.  From India they usually send letters and despatches to Espana by way of the Bermejo ["Red”] Sea, by means of Indians.  These send them through Arabia to Alexandria, and thence by sea to Venecia [Venice] and thence to Espana.

A galleon bound for Portugal sails and is despatched from the fort of Malaca, in certain years, by the open sea, without touching at India or on its coasts.  It reaches Lisboa much more quickly than do the Goa vessels.  It generally sails on the fifth of January, and does not leave later than that; nor does it usually anticipate that date.  However, not any of these voyages are practiced by the Castilians—­who are prohibited from making them—­except the one made by way of Nueva Espana, both going and coming, as above described.  And although the effort has been made, no better or shorter course has been found by way of the South Sea. [267]

Laus Deo

CONQUISTA DE LAS ISLAS MALUCAS

By the licentiate Bartolome Leonardo de Argensola.  Madrid; [published] by Alonso Martin, in the year M.DC.IX.

SOURCE:  This is translated and synopsized from the original printed work, for which purpose have been used the copies belonging to Harvard University and to Edward E. Ayer, of Chicago.