Vil. I. SOUTH AMERICA. 19^ 



fill they arrive at <lie port of Paita; being; very earc- 

 fiil to keep at a pro))er distance from Ogujia, wliieli is 

 very low^ and projeclinij^ a i;Teat distance into the 

 .^ea. Aceordingiy cauííocs navij^ators, aifter passing 

 tlic islands of Lobos^ steef a north eoúrs'e till they get 

 siglit of that of Nonura. 



The land oftliis ^vhole toast is low ; but there are 

 fsvo signs which evidently indicate its bciisg near. 

 First the sea-wolves, which are seen near these islands^, 

 and at three or four leagues distant from them. The' 

 second is the great flocks of birds all along this coast;, 

 flying two or three leagues from the shore, in quest 

 of food. And though fogs are very frequent here> 

 and so thick as to hide tiie land, yet its distance may 

 be nearly known from these signs in the day-time ; 

 but at night more circumspection is necessar;- on ac- 

 count of the extreme lowutss of the shore. And 

 though the islands of Lobos are something higher 

 than the coast, too much caution Cainiot be used in 

 appro aching them. 



If iá common in this voyage if the ship is intend- 

 ed to touch at Paita, and has not had sight of the 

 islands of Lobos in the day-time, when in their lati- 

 tude, to lie-to all night But if they do not pro- 

 pose to stop at Paita, proper attention must be given: 

 to the course, and the voyage continued. If the ship 

 be bound to Paita, there is a necessity for making 

 these island;, or the continent near them to the N. in 

 order to avoid being carried beyond the port by the 

 currents ; as in such a case a great deal of time would 

 be lost in getting backj both "the wind and currents 

 being contrary. 



From Paita, the Coast is always kept in sight; but 

 a careful look out is necessary in order to discover the 

 Ncgriios. rocky shoals, projecting four or five leagues' 

 distant from the shore, and lying betwixt Paita and 

 Cape Blanco, one of the points of Guayaquil bay. The 

 winds during this Vthole passage are usuallv S. but' 



Vol. U O ' int 



