Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

30 SARMIEXTo\s COLONY. 1581. the neighbourhood, and to the northward of Cape Virgins.* After much opposition from theDukeof Alva-|- and other power- ful people, he succeeded in convincing the King of the expedi- ency of fortifying the shores of the First Narrow, and forming several establishments within the Strait, to prevent the passage of strange ships, to the prejudice of the King's colonies in Chile and Peru ; for at that time the passage round Cape Horn was not known. Accordingly, an Expedition was prepared, con- sisting of twenty- three vessels, under the joint command of Diego Florez de Valdez and Sarmiento ; the former being appointed Captain-general of the fleet, and of the coast of Brazil ; and the latter, Captain-general of the Strait of Magal- haens, and Governor of all the Establishments that should be formed within it. Of the twenty-three ships which sailed from Spain, five only reached the entrance of the Strait ; and these, after experienc- ing many difficulties from bad weather and foul winds, returned to Rio de Janeiro to refit, where Sarmiento met four vessels which had been sent from Spain to his succour. His colleague and General in chief, Florez, who had deserted the Expedition, did all in his power to impede Sarmiento, to the latest moment of his stay at the Brazils. At last, however, five ships, com- manded by Ribera, and manned by five hundred and thirty men,]: sailed ; and, without encountering further loss or deten- tion, arrived off" the Strait in December (1584), and soon after reached an anchorage, between the First and Second Narrows. Ribera would go no further ; but landed about three hun- dred men, under Sarmiento. A city was marked out, and named Jesus,§ in a vaUey well provided with water. The • See Burney, ii. p. 45, for a fuller account ; also id. 71- t Who made a remark on the occasion, which became proverbial, *' that if a ship carried out only anchors and cables, sufi&cient for her security against the storms in that part of the world, she would go well laden." Burney Coll. vol. ii. 45. J Burney, ii. 51. § The situation of "Jesus" must have been about half-way between the First and Second Narrow, near the point named in the chart N. S. de Valle,