[Illustration: THE TWO ADMIRALS AT CLOSE QUARTERS.] Van Noort arrived at Rotterdam on the 26th of August, 1601, where he was received with the utmost joy, having been absent a fortnight short of three years. His was the first Dutch vessel that circumnavigated the globe, and the only one of the nine ships that sailed from Holland in 1598 in that design which succeeded in fulfilling it. The voyage contributed nothing to geography, but, in spite of the instances of barbarity with which it abounded, added to the warlike and commercial reputation of the country, and therefore met with favor from both Government and people. [Illustration: A DUTCH PICNIC IN THE MAURITIUS.] [Illustration: HEAD OF A TURTLE.] [Illustration: WOMAN AND CHILD OF ESPIRITU SANTO.] CHAPTER XXXIII. QUIROS' THEORY OF A SOUTHERN CONTINENT--HIS ARGUMENTS AND MEMORIALS--HIS FIRST VOYAGE--DISCOVERIES--ENCARNAÇION--SAGITTARIA, OR TAHITI--DESCRIPTION OF THESE ISLANDS--MANICOLO--ESPIRITU SANTO--ITS PRODUCTIONS AND INHABITANTS--QUIROS BEFORE THE KING OF SPAIN--HIS BELIEF IN HIS DISCOVERY OF A CONTINENT--HIS DISAPPOINTMENT--RENEWED SOLICITATIONS--DEATH OF QUIROS--DISCOVERIES OF TORRÈS--THE MUSCOVY COMPANY OF LONDON--HENRY HUDSON--HIS VOYAGES TO SPITZBERGEN AND NOVA ZEMBLA--HIS VOYAGE TO AMERICA--CASTS ANCHOR AT SANDY HOOK--ASCENDS THE HUDSON RIVER AS FAR AS THE SITE OF ALBANY--HIS VOYAGE TO ICELAND AND HUDSON'S BAY--DISASTROUS WINTER--MUTINY--HUDSON SET ADRIFT--HIS DEATH. We have said, in a preceding chapter, that Pedro Fernandez de Quiros was the pilot of Mendana's second expedition. During the voyage he had reflected deeply upon the probability of the existence of a Southern continent: on his return to Peru, he asserted it, and devoted the remainder of his life to the prosecution of a plan of discovery. He was the first to bring forward scientific arguments in support of the theory,--one which, by the way, was destined to agitate and interest the world for two centuries, till its final overthrow by Cook. He presented two memorials to Don Luis de Velasco, the viceroy, praying for ships, men, and other necessaries, with which "to plough up the waters of the unknown sea, and to seek out the undiscovered lands around the Antarctic Pole, the centre of that horizon." His arguments were many of them profound, and made a deep impression upon the viceroy, who replied, however, that Quiros' desires exceeded the limits of his authority. He nevertheless despatched him with strong recommendations to the court of Spain. Philip III. gave favorable attention to his projects, and ordered that Quiros should go in person upon an expedition "among these hidden provinces and severed regions,--an expedition destined to win souls to heaven and kingdoms to the crown of Spain." Quiros returned to Lima "with the most honorable schedules which had ever passed the Council of State." He presented his papers to the viceroy, and, forgetting the obstacles and