Celebrated Travels and Travellers

Baumans-New Britain-Arrival in Batavia-Byron-Stay at Rio Janeiro and Port Desire-Entrance into Straits of Magellan-F

he Pacific Ocean. His project was favourably received, but a coolness in the relations between Spain and Holland forced the Batavian government to re

Jacob Roggewein was in a position to take the necessary steps with the West India Company. We have no means of finding out Roggewein's age in 1721, or of ascertaining what were his claims to the command of an expedition of disco

e obscurities and contradictions of the particulars given, and their general want of accuracy, rather to the narrator than to the navigator. It even

the Atlantic afforded no particulars of interest. Touching at Rio, Roggewein went in search of an island which he named Auke's Magdeland, and which would appear to be the same as the Land of the Virgin, Hawkins' Virginia, and the Archipelago of the Falkland, or Malouine Islands, unless indeed it was Sout

erent names as Pepys Isles, Conti Isles, and many which

ch he named South Belgium, Roggewein passed through the Straits of Lemaire, or possibly was carried by the current to 62?° of southern latitude. Finally, he regained the coast of Chili; and cast

, and steered to the west-north-west, in search of th

in sighted an island upon the 6th of Ap

use. "But," said Fleurieu, "we shall vainly look in this narrative for any sign of learning on the part of Roggewein's sergeant-major." After describing the Banana, of which the leaves are six or eight feet high, and two or three wide, he adds that this was the leaf with which our first parents co

delighted every one by his good humou

o discoverable purpose a gun was fired, one of the natives was killed, and the multitude fled in every direction,-soon, however, to return in greater haste. Roggewein, at the head of

ifferences which he points out in the situation and description of the two islands, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that Roggewein and Davis'

st-north-west. He traversed the sea called Mauvaise by Schouten, and having sailed eight hundred leagues from Easter Island, fel

of a group of low islands, which were quite unexpectedly encountered. The African was dashed against a coral rock, and the two consorts narrowly escaped t

ies in various colours. It is generally agreed now to recognize in Roggewein's descript

slands, Roggewein discovered an island to which he gave the name of Aurora. Lying low, it was scarcel

the name of Vesper was given, and it is difficult to d

egrees, and was not long in finding himself "all of a s

ring the land we discovered that it consisted of a mass of different islands, situated close the one to the other, and we were insensibly drawn in amongst them.

ching us. As it was, we got away without any accident worth mentioning. These islands are six in number, all very pleasant, and taken together may extend some thirty

Fleurieu holds a different opinion. Dumont d'Urville thinks them iden

and. Cocoa-nuts, palm-trees, and luxuriant verdure testified to its fertility. But finding it impo

offensive population which had awaited them upon the s

ions of friendship. But they were not to be deceived by the latter, and having enticed the sailors into the interior, the inhabitants rushed upon them and attacked them with stones. Altho

he first blow? Who was the aggressor? Even admitting that a few thefts were committed, which is probable enough, was it necessary to visit them with so se

ey had enjoyed there, Recreation Island. Roggewein gives its situation as below the six

he Island Espirito Santo de Quiros in the west, or whether, on the contrary, h

alled to the consideration of this qu

hose the latte

sels to traffic, whilst an immense crowd of the inhabitants lined the shore, armed with bows and spears. They were white skinned, and only differed from Europeans in appearance, when very much tanned by the sun. Their bodie

ost honest, which we have met with in the southern seas. Charmed with our arrival, they receive

d appear to have been the inhabi

overy, named Roggewein Islands; after having caught sight of Tienhoven and Groningue Islands, which were believed by Pingré to be identical with Santa Cruz of Mendana, the expedition finall

officers and sailors indiscriminately, and sent them to Europe to take their trial. They had committed the unpardonable crime of

Company was compelled to restore all that i

be obtained of the last years of his life. Grateful thanks are due to Fleurieu for having unravelled this

on for believing in the existence of lands and islands in great numbers, between the Cape of Good Hope and the Straits of Magellan, which have been hitherto unknown to the European powers, and which are situated in latitudes suitable for navigation, and in climates productive of different marketable commodities; and as moreover, his Majesty's islands, called Pepys and Falkland Islands, situa

d the choice of the E

enthusiastic love of seafaring life, and at the age of seventeen had offered his services upon one of the vessels that

which befell this expedition before the incredibl

ch lasted at least three years, Byron effected his escape, and was rescued by a vessel from St. Malo, which took him to Europe. He returned at once to service, and distinguished himself in various encounte

and carried 24 guns, 150 sailors, 3 lieutenants, and 37 petty officers. The Tamar was a sl

on the 21st of June, but the Dauphin grounded before leaving

nchal in the Island of Madeira for refreshments. He was forced to halt again at Cape Ver

rrupt the voyage, until the two

the copper sheathing of his vessels appeared to disperse th

a large proportion of the crew, hence the urgent need

arrived on the 12th December. Byron was warmly welcomed

ell-drilled men. His Excellency accompanied by the nobility received me on the staircase. Fifteen salutes from the neighbouring fort honoured my arrival.

he reception given to Captain Cook some ye

nd every facility for revictualling. His sole cause of complaint was t

at Rio. Upon the 16th of October, anchor was weighed, but it was fiv

t secret. Byron now summoned the captain of the Tamar on board, a

in the southern seas. With this object the Lords of the Admiralty promised double pay to the crew, with future advancement and enjoyments, if they were ple

Commodore ordered four guns to be thrown overboard, to avoid foundering. In the morning the weather moderated somewhat, but it was as cold as in England at the same time of year, although in this quarter of th

is position, a repeated cry of "Land! land ahead!" arose. Clouds at this moment obs

discovery. They unanimously asserted that they saw a great extent of country. We then went E.S.E. The land appeared to present entirely the same appearance. The mountains looked blue, as is often the case in dark and rainy weather, when one is near them. Shortly afterwards, several of our number fancied they could distinguish waves breaking upon a

we should one and all on board have declared that we had discovered land i

iciently long, however, to throw the vessel on its beam end before it was possible to let go the halliards. At the same moment a blow from the sheet of t

wind freshened. After such a troublesome voyage, we may guess how gladly Byron reached Penguin Island and Port Desir

a single tree. They found no game, but they saw a few guanacos too far off for a shot; they were, however, able to catch s

ackish water could be procured there. Not a trace of inhabitants was to be found! A long stay

t. Cowley, the only person who asserted that he had seen it, declared it was about 47° la

ort where he could obtain food and water, of which he had pressing need. A storm overtook him, during which the waves were so terrific, that Byron declared he had never seen t

who set up a white tent, and signed to them to land. Curious to see these Patagonians, about who

heir faces traced with various coloured lines, their eyes encircled with blue, black, or red, so that they had the appearance of wearing enormous spectacles. Almost all w

them on h

f very small horses, excessively ugl

tirrups, and all galloped on the shore, although i

uted numbers of toys, ribbons, glass trin

the tide. It was not his intention to cross it, but merely to find a safe and commodious harbo

me in the air. The country was swarming with hundreds of birds, of which one species received the name of the "Painted Goose," from the exceeding brilliancy of its plumage. But nowhere could a spot be found where the ship's boat coul

s voyage to Port Famine, which h

age could accrue to vessels which might be driven on shore in the bay, because of the profound calm that prevails.

are planted with large and beautiful trees, excellent for masts; parrots, and birds of bril

en days later, he discovered a land in which he fancied he recognized the Islands of Sebald de Wert, but upon nearing them he found that what he had taken for three islands, was, in reality

summary bearing, a detachment was selected to skirt the coast as closely as possible, and look for a safe and commodious h

good a harbour. The depth was excellent, the supply of water easy; a

ing them. Want of wood was general, with the exception of some trunks of trees which f

erds. Animals resembling wolves, but more like foxes in shape, with the exception of their height and tails, several times attacked the sailors, who had great difficulty in defending themselves. It would be no easy task to guess how

Byron's voyage, in Didot's bi

as forced to put into a bay near Port Famine, which was named Port Egmont." A singular mistak

bability the first discoverer was Captain Davis in 1592. Two years later Sir Richard Hawkins found land which was thought to be the same, and named it Virginia, in h

Morieu 23, r.

par E.

, and set sail for Port Desire, which he reached nine days later. There he found the Florida-a transpo

ledge of the Strait of Magellan, on board the Florida, and with his two consorts set sail for Port Famine. He met with a French ship so many times in the straits, that it appeared as if she were bent upon the same

, the English expedition received several vi

hey offered me the bows and arrows with which they were armed in exchange for beads, necklaces, and other trifles. Their arrows, which were

have relished their food. It consisted of large pieces of whale, already putrified, the odour of which impregnated the air for some distance. O

show their appreciation, one of their number hastened to his pirogue (small boat) and returned with a little bag of wolf-skin, containing a red ointment, with which he rubbed the face of the violinist.

re the carrion

upon the advantages and disadvantages offered to the passage through the Straits of Magellan.

. There is one season in the year when not only one ship, but an entire fleet, might safely cross the straits, and to profit by this season one should enter them in the month of December. One inestimable advantage which should weigh with all navigators is that celery, scurvy-grass, fruits,

ez group, Byron had sailed to the N.W. He hastened to disembark several sailors, who after obtain

alone on the island, he still persistently refused to venture, when one of his companions cleverly encircled his waist with a cord, in which he had made a running knot, and one end of which was made fast to the boat. When he reached the vessel, Hawksworth's narrative relates, that the unfortunate fellow ha

and, now known as Easter Island, which was placed by geographers in 27° 30', a hund

wing his intention of visiting the Solomon group, steered for the north-west. Upon t

from the look-out on the 7th of

two islands, which presente

ere seen, and a number of natives who

It returned without having found the requi

cast looks of sorrowful longing at the fertile islands, which held the

rrativ

ful anti-scorbutic in the world. They had reason for supposing that limes, bananas, and other tropical

no more attainable than if they had been separated by half the gl

unfortunate crew, and giving the name of Disappointment Isl

islet. This feature alone was indicative of the madreporic formation of the soil, simple deposit, which was not yet, bu

d it towards him, instead of lifting it up, which gave the quarter-master an opportunity of interfering with his intention. Two large pirogues, each manned by thirty paddlers, showed an intention of attacking the

such of the sick as could

cealment, whilst the English picked cocoa-nuts, and gathered anti-scorbutic plants. Thes

received the name of King George-that which was discovered afterwards was called Prince of Wales' Island. All these

not attempt a thorough investigation of these, as to do so he would have incurred ris

English found no inhabitants, but carried off two hundre

173° 46' west, a desert island received the name of

voyage and want of proper food, in addition to the putrid water th

ttacked by this terrible disease, many even had been at the point of death. The captain undertook to explore the dense wood which extended to the very edge of the shore, in search of the lovely country so enthusiastically described in the account written by Lord Anson's chaplain. How far were these enchanting descriptions from

ficial to the invalids, who were shortly restored to vigour, the malarious atmosphere caused such violent fever that two sailors succumbed to it. In addition, the rain fell unceasingly and the hea

iately, as in less than a hour decomposition took place. Lastly, the fish caught upon this shore was s

h of the Philippines. Upon the 22nd he perceived Grafton Island, the most northerly of this group, and upon the 3rd of November he arrived at Timoan, which had been mentioned by Dampier as a favourable place for procuring provisions. The natives, however, who are of Malay descent, r

encountered a vessel bearing Dutch colours, but which was manned entirely by Malays. Reaching Sumatra, he explore

f the East India Company at this epoch. The town was at the height of its prosperity. Its large and open thoroughfares,

th a high idea of the prosperity of the town, and contributed to make their stay a pleasant one. The sole drawback, and it was a serious one to crews after so long a voyage, was

eached the strait of the sound, before a malignant fever broke out among the

on perceived the coast of Africa, and c

s, were all shipped with a rapidity which sufficiently indicated their anx

he passage across the Atlan

s if she had struck on a rock. Its violence so alarmed us that we all ran to the bridge. Our fears were dissipated when we saw the sea tinged with blood to

ries were discovered in her rudder, that it was necessary to invent something to replace it, and

red in the Downs, after a voyage round the w

ess fruitful of results than had been anticipated, the fault lay not so much with the captain as with the Lords of the Admiralty. They were not sufficiently accurate i

n important command in the East Indies was entrusted to him. But we have no interest in th