this beginning should be taken from nature herself, and in this matter they have taken the indication of the magnetic needle as their guide, and fix the first meridian in that place in which the needle points to the true north: That this is clearly an error is proved by this additional (and peculiar) property of the magnetic needle, that on the same meridian it has a variation according as it is near to this or that continent. But the very men who think this, on account of the uncertainty of the variation, disagree much among themselves as to where the first meridian is to be located, and so for the highest good of geography, that this same fixed meridian as a first beginning may be marked and be retained, we ourselves, following in the steps of Ptolemy, have chosen the same islands as he, and from their number that one which is called Juno, or commonly Tenerif; of these (islands) that high and steep rock beset by perpetual clouds and called by the natives El Pico, shall for us be the location of the first meridian. In this matter, from the longitude of the Arabs, who selected the shore of Africa farthest toward the west, we vary scarcely the fourth part of a degree, and this I thought worthy to be noted.” There is a brief but important legend near the Strait of Magellan reading, “Fretum Magellanicum, sic dictum a Ferdinando Magellano Lusitano, qui omnium primus id aperuit atque emensus est, anno 1520, Franciscus Draach et Thomas Candish, uterque anglus Fretum emensi sunt, ille anno 1579, hic anno 1587. Oliverius van Noorth et Georgius Speilbergius, uterque Belga annis 1600 et 1615.” “The Strait of Magellan, so called by Ferdinand Magellan a Portuguese who was the first to discover it and to sail through it in the year 1520, Francis Drake and Thomas Candish, both Englishmen, sailed through the strait, the one in the year 1579, the other in the year 1587. Oliver van Noort and George Spilbergen, both Belgians in the years 1600 and 1615.” Near the last-quoted legend we find “Fretum Le Maire a Wilhem Scouten Hernano et Jacobo Le Maire per eum inventum et lustratum Aᵒ 1616.” “The Strait of Le Maire discovered and surveyed by Wilhem Scouten and Jacob Le Maire in the year 1616.” To the northwest in the Pacific we find “Magellanus ad insulas has delatus, cum in iis nec hominum ulla vestigia, nec quicquam humano usui opportunum invenisset, Infortunatus nuncupavit.” “Magellan came to these islands and finding in them no trace of man nor of anything suitable for human use called them the Unfortunate Islands.” Near New Guinea is the information recorded “Novissime detecta et lustrata est a Wilhelmo Scouten anno 1616.” “Very recently discovered and surveyed by Wilhelm Scouten in the year 1616.”