On account of its thick woods and pleasant appearance, the name of Vergel, or Flower-Garden, was given to it.  There was little wind, and, owing to the necessary caution in navigating among unknown islands, they hove-to during the night.

To the north of Vergel island, which is the Merig Island of modern charts, they saw another large island running N.E. and S.W., and the peaks of its numerous mountains gave the captain a strong desire to go and see it; but he gave it up, owing to other things that occurred.  Its latitude they found to be 13 deg., and they named it Las Lagrimas da San Pedro.  The Tears of St. Peter.

To the N.W. another island was seen, with a circumference of 60 leagues.  It had two high and sloping hills, one at each end.  The rest was flat and of very pleasant appearance, alike from its shape and numerous trees.  Its latitude they found to be less than 14 deg..  They named it Portales de Belen.

Upon nearing the island to the westward of San Marcos, they saw columns of smoke arising in all directions, and at night many fires.  In the centre it was rather high, and thence its slopes extended in all directions to the sea, so that its form was a massive round with only the parts towards the south, broken with ravines.

There were many palm trees, plantains, verdure, abundant water, and the land was thickly inhabited.  The circumference was about 50 leagues, though some gave it much more and thought that it would support about 200,000 inhabitants.  Its latitude was 14 deg. 30’.  Owing to its great beauty, it was named Virgen Maria; it is the modern Gaua, in the Banks’ group.

Four canoes with unarmed natives came to the Almiranta, and made signs to offer to take him into port.  Seeing that the Spaniards did not wish it, they made presents of cocoanuts and other fruits.  Having received a good return, they went back to their island.  As the disposition of the natives seemed to be good, the captain sent a party in the launch and one boat, to examine the coast and find a port.  The party was under the command of Pedro Lopez de Soto.  They found to the S. and S.E. clean bottom at 20 fathoms or less, where the ships might have anchored if the weather to be experienced had been known.  They saw a great number of people on the island, who came out to see and call to them.  They followed the boat without passing certain boundaries, and by this they supposed that there were partitions of property between the people not on good terms.

Among them there were two distinct colours.  While the natives were looking at each other and talking by signs, a man rushed down from behind some rocks.  He was well made, of a clear mulatto colour, the hairs of his beard and head brown and crisp, and rather long.  He was robust and vigorous.  With a jump he got into the boat, and, according to the signs he made, he appeared to ask:  “Where do you come from?  What do you want?  What do you seek?” Assuming that these were the questions asked, some of the Spaniards said, “We come from the east, we are Christians, we seek you, and we want you to be ours.”