ps there now remained no more than thirty;
five had died during the voyage, because of the lack of food and the
privations of the long journey. A little while after their arrival
still another died, who had the good fortune to receive holy baptism.
They said that their country consisted of thirty-three islands. They
cannot be very far from the Marianas, to judge from the structure of
their vessels, and by the form of their sails, since these are of the
same style. There is strong indication that these islands are farther
to the south than the Marianas, in eleven or twelve degrees north
latitude, and upon the same parallel as Guivam; since the strangers
came straight from the east to the west, and landed on the shore at
this settlement. There is also ground for believing that this is one
of the islands that was discovered from afar some years ago. A vessel
belonging to the Philippines (in 1686) having left the customary route,
which is from east to west upon the thirteenth parallel, and having
veered somewhat toward the southwest, saw it for the first time. These
people called this island Carolina, in honor of the king (Charles II,
king of Spain); and the others called it St. Barnabas, because it was
discovered on the day when the church celebrates the feast of this
apostle. This island was seen last year by another vessel that the
tempest had blown out of its course, in going from here to the Marianas
Islands. The governor of the Philippines had often given orders to the
ship which went nearly every year to the Marianas, to seek for this
island and the others that were thought to be near; but these orders
had been useless, God reserving to this time the discovery of them,
and as we hope, the complete conversion of these people.
The strangers added that of these thirty-three islands there were three
which were inhabited only by birds, but that the others were thickly
peopled. When asked what was the number of the inhabitants, they took a
grain of sand or of dust, and intimated to the father in this fashion,
the innumerable multitude of men who lived there. These islands
are named Pais, Lamululutup, Saraon, Yaropie, Valayyay, Satavan,
Cutac, Yfaluc, Piraulop, Ytai, Pic, Piga, Lamurrec, Puc, Falait,
Caruvaruvong, Ylatu, Lamuliur, Tavas, Saypen, Tacaulat, Rapiyang,
Tavon, Mutacusan, Piylu, Olatan, Palu, Cucumyat, Piyalucunung. The
three which are only inhabited by birds are Piculat, Hulutan, and
Tagian. Lamurrec is the l
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