FOUR CENTURIES AGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18998, 20 October 1923, Page 15

FOUR CENTURIES AGO.

PIONEERS OF THE PACIFIC. A TALE OF ADVENTURE Written fur the Otago Daily Times. By A. J. Haiirop, M.A.

“Men full of activity, stirrers of the remote parts of the world.” Thus did Richard Hakluyt describe the mariners of England, who four centuries ago left that island’s shores on truly meat adventures into the seven seas of the world. And to this description does one’s mind turn when, sailing across tho Pacific in those less adventurous days, one’s thoughts revert, as they almost inevitably do, to those pioneeers of the Pacific who placed that ocean definitely on the maps and charts of men.

Geography and map-making were "of high and rare delight’’ to young Richard Hakluyt in his days at Westminster School, and his early enthusiasm was to bear a singularly fine fruit, making his name immortal in the annals of the sea. He was inspired to raise a “worthy monument” of his countrymen winch should, in no wise be buried in silence. His “Principal Navigations of the English Nation,” published in 1598, contains narratives of daring deeds which have had much to do with the building up of the traditions which have made English seamanship the great and glorious thing that it is. A true patriot and lover of England, Hakluyt wished her to be a queen among nations, prosperous and peaceful, beautiful with all noble arts, busy with all honest labour, perfect with all knightly virtue.” The ideal of Hakluyt has not lost its value with the passing of the centuries. And it is for the glowing pen of Hakluyt that one longs when there comes a. desire to paint a vivid picture of the early voyagers on the vast ocean which is called Pacific. Of the earliest voyages perhaps we shall never have any definite information. But one can imagine hordes of brown warriors migrating from Eastern Asia to the islands of the unknown South, risking their lives in a sublime gamble between their flimsy canoes and the ocean gods. Then very much later come peeping round the “Isles of Spicerie" the advance guard of Europe’s wandering fleets, 'Spanish and Portuguese and Dutch. And there are wonderful tales of monstrous beasts and strange men, and even in those early days, of vast treasures of gold m the unmolested southern region. And to us who are sailing the Pacific now, three thousand miles from New Zealand and about) the same distance from South America, one story of the early adventures has a peculiarly vivid appeal. Almost exactly 400 years ago, in September, 1522, the ship Victoria struggled into tho harbour of San Lucar. On board her were 18 men, the only survivors of the crews of the small squadron which Magellan had taken with him on the journey which was to be known throughout the ages as the first circumnavigation of the Globe. Those 18 men walked barefoot to church to give thanks for their safe return, as well they might when one considers the terrible perils and horrible tortures which they had suffered. Magellan had left San Lucar m September, 1519, and had begun the search for the passage which he felt there must be to open sea on the west of the continent of South America. Some of his crew became mutinous, but Magellan persisted in his quest. He sent a boat out to search .for the end of the strait, and s~-ne days later it returned with the long-desired news that the open sea had been descried. But glorious news was of no avail to fill the stomachs of hungry sailors. Scurvy was rife, and we are told that mice brought half a ducat apiece. Magellan finally arrived at the islands now called the Philippines, where he commenced to convert the natives. He was unwise enough to endeavour to force a. levy from one village, and his career came to an untimely end. Magellan's glorious life and inglorious death form a striking parallel to the career of Captain James Cook, whose death likewise furnished “no grounds for glory, no justification for national revenge.” Sebastian del Cana became admiral in the place of Magellan, and after further stirring adventures ne brought the Vitoria hack to Spain, receiving the plaudits of his Sovereign and his fellow-countrymen. It is difficult indeed for us to view the exploit of Magellan in its correct perspective unless we seriously consider certain of the obstacles which he had to overcome. His largest ship was of 130 tons burden, he had only the crudest medical resources, and the terrible menace of scurvy was continually in front of him. He had neither map nor chart to guide him during tho greater part of Ilis journey, and he had to rely upon the constructive imagination which had first given him the idea of discovering an eastern seaway of the Pacific. Perhaps Magellan’s greatest difficulty was. however, the management of his crews Terror of the unknown is one of the most common foibles of mankind, and when to unknown dangers are added very well known and very terrible scourges of hunger and thirst, we may well sympathise with the navigator in his task of persuading his men that the ultimate goal was worth the privations and misery he called upon them to endure. In one important respect fortune favoured tho brave adventurer. After traversing the Straits of Magellan the ships experienced very favourable weather and winds. Thus, by virtue of the good behaviour on so auspicious an occasion, was the vast southern sea named the Pacific. The name must not be be held to minimise the feat of Magellan, for this ocean, like all her sisters, is a creature of moods. Often to the anxious mariner “Pacific” means nothing hut an ironical misnomer, and even our modem ship, of nearly one hundred times the tonnage of Magellan’s, is being severely buffeted at the time of writing by fierce waves of the type which the pioneer ships must have had to endure.

It is only one stnall episode, perhaps, in the colourful story of the sea, and half its romance disappears in the telling, but here on the bosom of the Pacific, it seems a very real thing. Armed with all the devices which modern science and the progress of four centuries have given to us, equipped with every possible comfort, we cannot call ourselves followers of Magellan, hut merely his humble admirers. What would that great sailor have said if he had been promised a daily summary of the world’s news during his voyage across the Pacific? tie would probably have declined the gift with thanks, stating that lie wished to escape from the things of the world, i'or of such is the pioneering spirit.