200
THE WEST SHORE.
THE FABULOUS STRAITS OF ANIAN.
II.
WHERE is still another somewhat mythical voyage
JL associated with this search for the Straits of Anian,
which has played a most important part in the history of
Oregon; and though it comes entirely through English
sources, is utterly repudiated by modern English his
torians, and even receives but little credence among
American writers. This is the celebrated voyage of
J uan do Fuca, who is claimed to have discovered the
Straits of Fuca, that broad channel separating a portion
of Washington Territory from Vancouver Island, in
Uritish Columbia.
There was published in Loudon, in 1625, a celebrated
historical and geographical work, edited by Samuel Pur.
chas, which bore the odd title of " The Pilgrims." Among
other things, this volume contained "A note by Michael
Loek, the elder, touching the Strait of Sea, commonly
called r return Anian, in the South Sea, through the
Piorthwest Passage of Meta Incognita." The most im
portant portion of this alleged document of Mr. Lock is
as follows:
" When I was in Venice, in April, 1596, haply arrived
there an old man, about sixty years of age, called, com
monly, Juan de luca, but named properly Anostolas
Valorianus, of nation a Greek, born in Cephalonia, of
profession a mariner, and an ancient pilot of ships. This
man, being come lately out of Spain, arrived first at Leg
horn, and wont thence to Florence, where he found one
John Douglas, an Englishman, a famous mariner, ready
coming for Venice, to be pilot of a Venetian ship for
England, in whose company they came both together to
Venice. And John Douglas being acquainted with me
More, he gave mo knowledge of this Greek pilot, and
brought him to my speech; and in long talks and confer
once between us, in presence of John Douglas, this Greek
pilot declared, in the Italian and Spanish languages this
much in effect as followeth: First, he said he had been
in the West Indies of Spain forty years, and had sailed
to and from many places thereof, in the service of the
Spaniards. Also, he said that he was in the Spanish
ship which, in returning from the Islands Philippines
towards Nova Spania, was robbed and taken at the Cape
f Snl7 .Cft,UliHh' EKliH. whereby he
Ut GO 0(W ducats of his goods. Also, he said that he was
pilot of three small ships which the Viceroy of Mexico
sent from Mexico, armed with 100 men, under a captain,
Spaniards, to discover the Straits of Anian, along the
coast ot the South Sea, and to fortify in that strait, to
WBwt the pa-sage and proceedings of the English nation,
which wore force, to pass through those straits into th
South Sea; and that, by reason of a mutiny which hap!
poncd among the soldiers for the misconduct of S
captain that voyage was overthrown, and the sl ip Z
done .n that voyage; iml t!mt ftor , "8
captain was at Mexico punished bv iKti, ii
tn said iwroy of Mcx u iun 4 . "uetl
WPuy pnt nun out agam, in 1502,
with a small caravel and a pinnace, armed with mariners
only, to follow the said voyage for the discnvory of th:
Straits of Anian, and the passage thereof into the sea
which they call the North Sea, which is our northwest
sea; and that he followed his course, in that voyage, west
and northwest in the South Sea, all along the coast o!
Nova Spania, and California, and the Indies, now called
North America (all which voyage he signified to me in 8
great map, and a sea-card of my own, which I laid before
him), until he came to the latitude of 47 degrees; and
that, there finding that the land trended north and north
west, with a broad inlet of sea, between 47 and 48 degrees
of latitude, he entered thereinto, sailing therein more
than twenty days, and found that land trending still
sometime northwest, and northeast, and north, and also
east and southeastward, and very much broader sea than
was at the said entrance, and that he passed by divers
islands in that sailing; and that, at the entrance of this
said strait, there is, on the northwest coast thereof, a
great headland or island, with an exceeding high .pin
nacle, or spired rock, like a pillar, thereupon. Also, he
said that lie went on land in divers places, and that he
saw some people on land clad in beasts' skins; and that
the land is very fruitful, and rich of gold, Bilver, pearls,
and other things, like Nova Spania. Also, he said that
he being entered thus far into the said strait, and being
come into the North Sea already, and finding the sea
wide enough everywhere, and to be about thirty or forty
leagues wide in the mouth of the straits where he
entered, he thought he had now well discharged his office;
and that, not being armed to resist the force of the savage
people that might happen, he therefore set sail, and re
turned homewards again towards Nova Spania, where he
arrived at Acapulco, Anno 1592, hoping to be rewarded
by the Viceroy for this service done in the said voyage.
Here follows an account of his vain endeavors
for three years to secure a proper recognition of his ser
vices by the Viceroy or the Spanish monarch, and his
resolution to return to his native land to die among his
countrymen. Also, he said he thought the cause of his
ill reward had of the Spaniards, to be for that they did
understand very well that the English nation had now
given over all their voyages for discovery of the north
west passage; wherefore they need not fear them any
more to come that way into the South Sea, and therefore
they needed not his service therein any more. Also, he
said that, understanding the noble mind of the Queen of
England, and of her wars against the Spaniards, ami
hoping that her majesty would do him justice for hi
goods lost by Captain Candish, he would be content to go
into England, and serve her majesty in that voyage for
the discovery perfectly of the northwest passage into the
South Sea. if she would fiimisli him with onlv one ship
of forty tons burden, and a pinnace, and that he would
perform it in thirty days' time, from one end to the other
of the strait, and he willed me bo to write to England.
And, from conference had twice with the said Gr
pilot, I did write thereof nrrdinr1v. to Enelnnd, unto
the right honorable the old Lord Treasurer Cecil, and to