there was the slightest impediment to his further
progress into the great South Sea.

He had now practically demonstrated that it was possible to sail to the
east by way of the west. To the long-sought-for straits Magalhaens
ultimately gave the appellation of the Straits of the Patagonians; but
it has more properly ever since been called after his name, corrupted by
the English into Magellan.

Having waited at the entrance of the straits for the missing ship till
the time appointed for her rejoining had passed, the three remaining
vessels proceeded on their voyage. The cold being severe, the Admiral
considered it desirable to steer towards the Line, and accordingly
shaped a north-westerly course.

On the 24th of January, 1521, a small island was discovered, to which
the name of Saint Pablo was given, in memory of the hapless Patagonian,
who, after being baptised, had shortly before died. A few days
afterwards another small island was sighted, and called Tiburones, or
Shark's Island. In this manner he proceeded for three months and twenty
days, having sighted only the two small islands already mentioned. The
crew by this time had exhausted all their provisions, including even
their bread. The fresh water had become so bad that it could be with
difficulty swallowed, while they at length had nothing left to eat but
pieces of skin and bits of feather. In order to enable them to chew
these unsavoury morsels, they were first steeped in hot water for some
days, and then cooked with any fat or grease which remained. Owing to
the impure and scanty means of subsistence many died, and those who
remained became sickly, weak, and low spirited. The gums of many of
them grew over their teeth on both sides, so that they were unable to
masticate the pieces of skin, and were thus miserably starved to death.
The sea, however, continued smooth and the wind fair, and they were
blown gently along at a good rate. In consequence of the calmness of
the water, the Admiral gave the sea over which he was sailing the name
of the Pacific Ocean, which it has ever since retained, although
considered by many, from their different experience, very inappropriate,
as at certain periods severe storms prevail there, as in other parts of
the world.

In a short time nineteen men had died, and thirty were so weak that they
were unable to do duty. After sailing on all this time, they were
anxiously looking out for islands where they could obtain