s is so true that there have been ships which,
when they were at the mouth of the harbor of Monte Rey, decided, as
soon as they recognized it, not to enter it, but kept on their voyage
with all sails spread. They felt that as soon as they sighted land
anywhere they could go on, and, with favorable weather, reach the
harbor of Acapulco in twenty-five or thirty days. The accidents and
injuries caused by hurricanes--which are the things that place ships in
jeopardy, and which oblige them to return to their port of departure,
with so much loss--ordinarily occur from the time when they pass the
cape of Spiritu Santo on the island of Manila, all along the chain
of the Ladrones until they pass the end of Japon at the point called
the Cape of Sestos and reach latitude thirty-two or thirty-three;
consequently, the ship which receives such injuries always does
so before entering the great gulf of Nueva Espana, and can find no
place of refuge without returning to Japon or to the Philipinas. If
its condition should permit it to sight the coast of Cape Mendocino
after fifty days (the usual length of time), its troubles would be
practically over. On this account, and since the harbor of Monte
Rrey is so situated that when the ships from the Philipinas reach
it they feel that their voyage to the harbor of Acapulco within
twenty-five or thirty days is certain, as has been said, and since
it has never been known to occur that a ship after sighting land
has been obliged to put back, therefore the Marques declares that,
as the object is to provide ships with a harbor where they may land,
or at least touch and refit, the harbor should be provided, or at
least be sought, where it may be of use before the vessels enter the
great gulf of Nueva Espana. This he urges the more because there are
two islands in latitude thirty-four or thirty-five, named Rrica de Oro
and Rrica de Plata, [48] to the west of the harbor of Monte Rey and
in almost the same latitude though very distant in longitude. Those
who have undertaken that voyage and have made it declare that both
these islands are very well suited to be places of refitting for the
ships from the Philipinas, and that it would be advantageous to find
them again and colonize one of them for this purpose. Regarding this
as certain, the Marques thinks that the exploration and colonizing
in question should be mainly at these islands, being committed to
some person of competence, care, and fidelity. For