HARMAND,
Louis Gustave, French pilot, born in Dieppe, France, in 1503; died in Acapulco,
New Spain, in 1549. He had served in the French navy, and in 1541 offered his
services to Antonio de Mendoza, then viceroy of New Spain, who attached him to
the expedition commanded by Vasquez de Coronado and Fray Marcos de Nifia. On
his return, Mendoza appointed him chief pilot, and in 1543 sent him to explore
the coasts of California. He sailed in a small brig on 20 March, 1543, and kept
always in sight of the land, making charts, and advancing three degrees farther
than Hermand de Alarcon in the Gulf of California. He rectified the map of
Alarcon, and brought back proof that California is not an island, as had been
believed. Harmand landed several times, and collected some interesting
traditions current among the natives, which he published under the title
"Les indigenes de la California" (Paris, 1647). A copy of the
original edition, probably the only one now in existence, is in the National
library of Paris. It has been reprinted by Ternaux Compans, the historian of
the discovery of South America, in his collection. Harmand's map of California
is wonderfully exact, considering that the navigator had scarcely any
instrument. (Listed by Schindler)
(Vol3, p. 84)
No comments:
Post a Comment