Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
No. It was vital the two ships stayed together 'lest any accident
befall either'.
Supposing the Swallow were to be anchored in a suitable cove
and Carteret were to use the ship's boats to lead Dolphin through the
straits.
No. Wallis' instructions were to keep his ships together.
Carteret would willingly come aboard the Dolphin as first lieuten-
ant and make his knowledge of the South Sea available.
No. Wallis could not depart from his Admiralty instructions. Two
ships were essential for voyages of exploration.
If Wallis would not sail a single ship across the Pacific, Carteret
would. Perhaps the commander would prefer to return home with the
Swallow while he went on in the Dolphin?
No!
The two ships limped from anchorage to anchorage. Sometimes
Swallow led the way. Sometimes she had to be towed. Often she and
Dolphin had to remain in harbour for days or weeks together. The
end result was that the passage of the Straits, which Magellan had
made in thirty-seven days and Drake in seventeen, took Wallis's ex-
pedition 115 days. Then, to crown all, and despite his protestations
about the necessity to proceed in tandem, Wallis did leave the con-
sort behind. It happened on the night of 10-11 April when the ships
were approaching Cape Pilar at the outlet to the Pacific. They were
sailing before a favourable wind and the Swallow was in the lead.
Soon after dark the Dolphin put on sail and passed her companion.
By morning she had broken through the barrier of cross currents
and variable winds at the Straits' mouth and was standing out to sea
with all sails set. About nine o'clock she disappeared over the west-
ern horizon and that was the last the men of the Swallow saw of her.
 
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