SANTIAGO
AND MAIO
Santiago and Maio,
being the only Islands in the group which lay on the assumed
latitude of 15*15**.Comparing the islands side by side,
it is immediately apparent that they differ greatly, in
size, shape, topography, also the line of Latitude 15*15**
crosses them, at different points. It cuts across the north
western end of Santiago, whereas it almost cuts the island
of Maio in half, from west to east.The outline of Santiago,
bears no resemblance to the Skeleton Island, whilst Maio
on the other hand has a certain similarity to it, unfortunately,
according to the position of the compass on the chart, Skeleton
island lays on an east west axis? Yet Maio Definitely, lays
on the north south axis? Yes, this puzzled me as well, but
only for a little while as I found that Skeleton Island
held the answer to this enigma.
The normal methods
of sailing in those times, required the navigator to sail
on an assumed course to the desired latitude, on reaching
this position, he then worked out whether he lay east or
west of his target and sailed along that latitude until
reaching his target. Once in sight of land he could use
his skills in working out the outline and prominent points
on the island, to either guide him to a safe anchoring on
the correct island or to direct him to the correct island.
This is similar to the Armed forces, who use silhouette
shots of aircraft, ships and coastline as a visual reference.
The skeleton Island
also shows the shading of the mountains in the background,
whilst those in the foreground are clear. Therefore, unless
we have stopped spinning around the sun, on the horizontal
east west axis, then our normal view of the Skeleton island,
Must!!! Be, from the West!! Which would then put Maio and
the Skeleton Island on the exact same alignment!!
The only sensible
option, is to compare the Skeleton Island, directly with
Maio. But before we do, please remember that we have arrived
here, on a series of assumptions, similarities and coincidences,
we could therefore, have arrived at any island on the planet,
but we haven’t, it has brought us, to Maio.
