They had lost a day—or, the islanders had gained a day!
They met the ships from Seville there, and doubtless disputed with the traders in regard to what day of the week it was.
"This is the 6th of September," they said; "a day that we shall ever have occasion to celebrate."
"It is the 7th of September," said their joyous friends.
The sailors consulted with each other. All agreed that it was the 6th of September. Nowhere had they failed to make a daily memorandum. The people of Seville must have lost a day.
The solar year consists of three hundred and sixty-five days and six hours, and if one sails West three years one will gain a day, and if one sails East, one will lose a day.
If the reader will note the following dates of this wonderful voyage, he will solve the mystery of the "lost day:"
CHRONOLOGY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.
| Magellan arrives at Seville | October 20, 1518. |
| Magellan's fleet sails from Seville, Monday[E] | August 10, 1519. |
| Magellan sails from San Lucar de Barrameda, Tuesday | September 20, 1519. |
| Magellan arrives at Teneriffe | September 26, 1519. |
| Magellan sails from Teneriffe, Monday | October 3, 1519. |
| Magellan arrives at Rio Janeiro | December 13, 1519. |
| Magellan sails from Rio | December 26, 1519. |
| Magellan sails from Rio de la Plata | February 2, 1520. |
| Magellan arrives at Port St. Julian | March 31, 1520. |
| Eclipse of sun | April 17, 1520. |
| Loss of Santiago. | |
| Magellan sails from Port St. Julian | August 24, 1520. |
| Magellan sails from river of Santa Cruz | October 18, 1520. |
| Magellan makes Cape of the Virgins, entrance of straits | October 21, 1520. |
| Desertion of San Antonio | November, 1520. |
| Magellan issues from straits into the Pacific, Wednesday | November 28, 1520. |
| Magellan fetches San Pablo Island | January 24, 1521. |
| Magellan fetches Tiburones Island | February 4, 1521. |
| Magellan reaches the Ladrone Islands, Wednesday | March 6, 1521. |
| Magellan reaches Samar Island of the Philippines, Saturday | March 16, 1521. |
| Magellan reaches Mazzava Island, Thursday | March 28, 1521. |
| Magellan arrives at Zebu Island | April 7, 1521. |
| Death of Magellan at Matan, Saturday | April 27, 1521. |
| Arrival of San Antonio at Seville | May 6, 1521. |
| Arrival of Victoria and Trinity at Tidore, Friday | November 8, 1521. |
| Victoria sails from Tidore | December 21, 1521. |
| Victoria discovers Amsterdam Island, Tuesday | March 18, 1552. |
| Victoria doubles the Cape of Good Hope | May 18, 1552. |
| Victoria arrives at San Lucar, Wednesday[F] | September 6, 1552. |