Hundreds of islands that once appeared on nautical charts and general atlases are now known to have vanished — or never even existed. How were they detected in the first place? Henry Stommel; an oceanographer and senior scientist at Massachusetts' Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; chronicles his fascinating research in documenting the false discoveries of these phantom islands.British and American Hydrographic Offices compiled lists for navigators of reported dangers corresponding to the islands' supposed locations; which formed the basis for Stommel's surveys. These tales; which unfold according to location; blend historical and geographic background with intriguing anecdotal material. They relate how the small land formations came to be charted; who reported them; who eradicated them; and why some of them endured for so long. The chronicle of navigational errors; optical illusions; wishful thinking; and other mishaps is illustrated by scores of black-and-white images; including two 19th-century Admiralty charts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans; where most of the sightings took place.
#986687 in Books Alvar Nuanez Cabeza de Vaca Cyclone Covey 2011-11-02 2011-10-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x .40 x 5.50l; .38 #File Name: 0486431800160 pagesThe Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca His Account of the Disastrous First European Exploration of the American Southwest
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Beyond ImaginationBy Ron BraithwaiteDe la Vaca's account is incredibly valuable for multiple reasons. It is an adventure story par excellence. It is also the earliest; first-hand account of many native cultures long gone. Not only was De la Vaca; and his three companions; more tough than whip leather; they were also fortunate. They outlasted the other 300 Spaniards who started with the Narvaez expedition and later--escaping the Indians of Florida on wooden rafts--wash up on the Texas' coast.Most of the survivors are done to death by starvation; dehydration; disease and duplicitous natives. A few survive by making themselves useful as slaves. Constantly whittled down; four Spaniards [actually three Spaniards and a Moorish slave]; survive by leaving the coast to seek help from more friendly natives in the interior. Along the way; they gain the reputation as being great 'healers'; descended from the native equivalent of Heaven. This misunderstanding; no doubt; saved their lives. They are able to pass from tribe to tribe with relative impunity. They are venerated as Gods and; from the native point of view; they are capable of healing the dying and; at one point; cause a dead man to 'rise from the dead.'Violent tribes; from which the Comanche and Apache are descended; love them and honor them. They give the Spaniards everything they have. Great throngs of tribesmen follow our Spaniards around; hoping for a blessing. Finally; after seven or eight years and following circuitous routes [de la Vaca had only the vaguest idea about southwest geography]; our heroes make it to lands being ravaged by Spanish slavers. De la Vaca; who has by this time come to respect the natives; is appalled. At the same time; because his own situation is still precarious; he is circumspect. He tries to help and warn the natives as much as he can but finally leaves them for Mexico City and; later; Spain.Arguably; one of the most lasting impressions de la Vaca leaves us with is the incredible poverty of most of the tribes he encountered. Yes; some of the tribes of western New Mexico; Arizona and northern Mexico were relatively prosperous with cultivated corn and squash and trade goods from the south. Most of the Texas' tribes he encountered; though; seem to be starving much of the time. Many actually die of starvation as did many of the initial Spanish survivors. The Texas' natives seem to lead a migratory; hand-to-mouth existence; traveling between the coast; the nut-bearing trees near the coast and even to the far west during the season of ripening prickly pear fruit. The people mostly go naked and experience incredible torments during the winter from cold and; during the summer; from mosquitos. To protect themselves from mosquitos at night they surround themselves with smokey fires. Women and slaves are responsible for keeping the fires lit all night long.I think we can count our blessings.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy LuisaPerfect0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is one of three books I have on Cabeza ...By Bill ThompsonThis is one of three books I have on Cabeza de Vaca. What I found with all three is the preface or introductions are really where the worth of the book lays. Worth getting.
