The boats landed with difficulty, and one of them was actually overset in one of their visits and the crew nearly drowned among the breakers.
This natural obstacle was probably not the most obstinate that existed there; they found the island inhabited by a warlike people, that opposed them in every enterprise.
In different skirmishes, several natives were killed, and some of the Spaniards wounded, so that after some unsuccessful attempts to get water they were obliged to abandon the place.
They speak particularly with enthusiasm of the beauty and studied dress of the women, who, according to their accounts, surpassed the fairest Spanish ladies, both in grace and beauty.
This island was called _Isla de la Gente Hermosa_, Island of the Handsome People.

I have been able to obtain a photograph of one of the descendants of the native women so much admired by the Spaniards, and you may judge for yourselves whether they were right in their appreciation.
The design of Queiroz was to reach Santa Cruz without delay, and with this object in view he directed his course westward, for in these latitudes they expected to come in sight of the lofty volcano, Tinacula, which would enable them to identify Santa Cruz.
After many days' navigation, they discovered, from the mast-head of the Capitana, a high and black-looking island, having the appearance of a volcano and lying W.N.W.They could not reach it for several days; after which they soon perceived that it was not Tivacula, as they had at first thought, for they had to pass among several small islands in order to get near it, and they well remembered that Tinacula stood alone in its awful and solemn grandeur.
The small islands that surrounded the larger one that they had taken for a volcano were most of them on the western side, but far enough from the larger one to leave a channel capable of receiving ships.

Torres, the second in command, was sent to reconnoitre this island.
(I shall give his description in Chapter XII.) In this harbour the fleet anchored in twenty-five fathoms.

At no great distance, and within the reefs that surrounded these islands, a smaller island was observed, not more than five or six feet above the level of the water.

It was formed of stones and coral, and seemed to be the work of man.