登陆注册
15512500000058

第58章 APPENDIX A.(3)

First. There is no objection to Samana in respect to size, position or shape. That it is a little island, lying east and west, is in its favor. The erosion at the east end, by which islets have been formed, recalls the assertion of Columbus that there it could be cut off in two days and made into an island.

The Nassau vessels still find a snug anchorage here during the northeast trades. These blew half a gale of wind at the time of the landfall; yet Navarette, Varnhagen, and Captain Becher anchored the squadron on the windward sides of the coral reefs of their respective islands, a "lee shore."The absence of permanent lagoons at Samana I have tried to explain.

Second. The course from Samana to Crooked is to the southwest, which is the direction that the Admiral said be should steer "tomorrow evening." The distance given by him corresponds with the chart.

Third. The second island, Santa Maria, is described as having two sides which made a right angle, and the length of each is given.

This points directly to Crooked and Acklin. Both form one island, so fitted to the words of the journal as cannot be done with any other land of the Bahamas.

Fourth. The course and distance from Crooked to Long Island is that which the Admiral gives from Santa Maria to Fernandina.

Fifth. Long Island, the third, is accurately described. The trend of the shores, "north-northwest and south-southeast;" the "marvelous port" and the "coast which runs east [and] west," can nowhere be found except at the southeast part of Long Island.

Sixth. The journal is obscure in regard to the fourth island. The best way to find it is to "plot" the courses FORWARD from the third island and the courses and distances BACKWARD from the fifth. These lead to Fortune for the fourth.

Seventh. The Ragged Islands are the fifth. These he named las islas de Arena--Sand Islands.

They lie west-southwest from the fourth, and this is the course the Admiral adhered to. He did not "log" all the run made between these islands; in consequence the "log" falls short of the true distance, as it ought to. These "seven or eight islands, all extending from north to south," and having shoal water "six leagues to the south" of them, are seen on the chart at a glance.

Eighth. The course and distance from these to Port Padre, in Cuba, is reasonable. The westerly current, the depth of water at the entrance of Padre, and the general description, are free of difficulties. The true distance is greater than the "logged,"because Columbus again omits part of his run. It would be awkward if the true distances from the fourth to the fifth islands, and from the latter to Padre, had fallen short of the "log," since it would make the unexplainable situation which occurs in Irving's course and distance from Mucaras Reef to Boca de Caravela.

From end to end of the Samana track there are but three discrepancies. At the third island, two leagues ought to be two miles. At the fourth island twelve leagues ought to be twelve miles. The bearing between the third and fourth islands is not quite as the chart has it, nor does it agree with the courses he steered. These three are fairly explained, and I think that no others can be mustered to disturb the concord between this track and the journal. --------Rev. Mr. Cronan, in his recent voyage, discovered a cave at Watling's island, where were many skeletons of the natives. It is thought that a study of the bones in these skeletons will give some new ethnological information as to the race which Columbus found, which is now, thanks to Spanish cruelty, entirely extinct.

同类推荐
  • 四字经

    四字经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 下第夜吟

    下第夜吟

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 成实论

    成实论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大业杂记

    大业杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说演道俗业经

    佛说演道俗业经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 黑雁

    黑雁

    黑夜有如无情巨兽,仿佛一下子就把整个上海市吞噬下去。每个人都会有不愉快的时候,每当心情不好时,又尤其是在赌场上输得一败涂地的时候,夏六德就会捧着一瓶酒,喝得天昏地暗。他常对别人说,自己是个很能“忍”的赌徒。“赌,不怕!但别赌得太尽!更千万别弄到债台高筑!”这就是他在赌博上的哲学。
  • 少女与天团王子

    少女与天团王子

    国内炙手可热的power男团仅仅出道两年其吸粉能力以肉眼可见在迅速扩大,导致火爆程度只是个简单的接机都能把机场几度陷入混乱。power男团五名成员中,其中最安静也是最叛逆的成员莫熙玄,选择在了他人气巅峰时期隐藏了起来,美曰其名“休假”,害得经纪人和公司几乎快翻遍全国。还是一次莫熙玄的出行,被记者拍到,公司才找到他的,但是与他在一起的还有一名女孩,并且被冠上了“莫熙玄秘密交往中的女友”标题。纳尼?事件的主人公陈茵茵可就不淡定了,她什么时候和当红男团成员秘密交往了?放屁,她会这么没眼光,找一个闷骚包的男友?
  • 这里曾经是汉朝5

    这里曾经是汉朝5

    本书是该系列的第五部,书中从王莽夺权写起,到东汉班超等人征服西域为止。王莽积数十年功力,终于成功篡权,建立新朝。然而,这个史上最为著名的集儒家学术大师及理想主义者为一体的皇帝一登基,就掀起了狂热的复古主义,将国家推向了深渊。天下哗然,怨声四起,造反之声不绝于耳。刘氏宗族后裔以种田为业的刘秀,也加入了光复汉朝滚滚洪流,去寻找他那血腥的梦想。
  • 神棍出没,请注意

    神棍出没,请注意

    穿越的方式有很多,有快死掉就穿越的,有逛逛菜市场就穿越的,有睡觉睡着睡着就穿越的,甚至还有大姨妈一来就穿越的!但是,为毛线我去小卖部买了个打火机玩玩就穿越了啊!没错,虽然我手贱,但是我才不要穿越到古代啊!古代连姨妈巾都木有啊!穿越了......
  • 逆世狂神

    逆世狂神

    吾要逆天而行,让这天再也不能遮蔽我的双眼,阻挡我的脚步,主宰我的命运。我命由我,不由天!苍天弃吾,吾宁成魔!
  • 锋爆天下

    锋爆天下

    10000年前,轮回之帝拯救世界,一怒万古灭。100年前,帝族玄族一夜之间被灭族,究竟是何人所为。15年前,天地异常,雷霆无边,引万教瞩目。15年后,一个懵懂少年,从赤练火海中走出,走向那充满挑战的武道大世界。
  • 混在仙界的圣之天使

    混在仙界的圣之天使

    千磨万击还坚劲任尔东西南北风这是一个励志的故事,坑爹的大学生李萌奇异的穿越了,这个并不牛逼的人穿成了牛逼的强者,本以为咸鱼大翻身,却不想一朝回到解放前。
  • 火力无限

    火力无限

    我不会华丽惊艳的魔法,也不会强大实用的斗气,因为我是地球人。我没有扭转乾坤的内力,更没有遮天蔽日的异能,因为我是普通人类。“高手就是用有限的资源创造无限的价值,然而我却有无限的资源。”——萧铭
  • 离酒似歌:烟花易冷

    离酒似歌:烟花易冷

    她,因为身份问题从小女扮男装。他,因为父亲抛弃母亲而想方设法复仇。他偶然的救了被追杀中的她一命,两人的羁绊再也解不开。but!“小爷不是gay!”“然后。”“你离我远点!”“意见驳回。”“喂,你还讲……”“再说一句我就不让你吃晚饭。”“你别啊,我不说就是了!”
  • 生活无序

    生活无序

    小说描述了一个努力追求上进的青年,在心爱的女友的推动下来到一所民办高校,在进入学校后的失落,使他曾经对大学的向往相差千里。于是,他曾经的恶习再度重演,用这样对待学习生活的方式好像才能求得内心的平衡与慰藉。本文是首部反映民办高校的小说,同时也折射出这些学子们的自卑和无奈。由于没有好的教育背景,以及人们对民办教育的种种歧视,当学子们进入社会之后,他们要付出比同龄人更多的艰难才能在社会中立足。民办教育的种种弊端,折射出中国当代民办教育的不完善以及不太成熟。