Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Among Cavendish's boasts was the promise that he would re-
turn to wrest control of the Orient trade from the Portuguese and
Spanish. This he was clearly resolved to do. Having mastered the
southerly route himself, he believed that other English mariners
could and would employ their superior ships and seamanship to es-
tablish regular contact with these profitable markets. There was no
need to wait for the discovery of a north-west passage; Cathay and
the Spice Islands lay open via two clearly-established routes.
Having almost no cargo space available, Cavendish could not
take commercial advantage of his position. He, therefore, bypassed
the Moluccas, sailing between those islands and the Celebes, entered
the Indian Ocean via the Straits of Lombok and coasted along the
southern shore of Java. All the time he was adding information to
his charts and rutters and compiling a dossier on enemy depots and
fortifications. The bland description of the route in surviving doc-
uments should not blind us to Cavendish's real achievements as a
navigator. Malaysia and Indonesia present any sailor with a formid-
able maze of islands and shoals, in which countless ships have come
to grief. The Golden Hind's voyage very nearly ended in these wa-
ters. Yet, the Desire made a leisurely and safe three month cruise
through the region. Cavendish's success was certainly partly due to
good weather. But more important was his use of local knowledge.
He made a point of establishing good relations with the rulers and
people of the islands. He gave impressive gifts of cannon and other
items of booty to the Muslim princes. In return he received fresh pro-
duce, information on reefs and channels, and native pilots to guide
his ship to safety.
He left Java on 16 March, having careened the Desire and seen
her well-fitted and provisioned for the homeward voyage. He took
the southerly route across the Indian Ocean and a month and a
day brought his men in sight of the Cape of Good Hope. The Desire
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search