22S A VOYAGE TO Book VIII. 



33' 30^' S. lat. andadegreeW. of the meridian de Afue- 

 ra de Juan f'ernandes, we observ-ed the winds to shift 

 from S. toS. W. Accordingly we altered our course, 

 steered E. and E.S.E. till the 31st day, when we found 

 ourselves in the latitude of S6° 23' and about fifteen or 

 twenty leagues N. W. of the bay of Conception. But 

 the weather, which had been the same also the day pre- 

 ceding, was so hazy, that we could not see the other 

 frigate. Sometimes indeed we discerned the colours, 

 but without having any sight either of the hull or 

 mast.* This was however sufficient to assure us that 

 they were within half a cannon shot of each other. 

 This, and our being something to leeward of the bay, 

 obliged us to stand to some distance off to sea ; and 

 thus we kept along the coast without venturing to ap- 

 proach it till the 5th, when at half an hour after nine 

 in the morning, the weather cleared up, and gave us 

 sight of Cape Carnero, bearing S. S. E. ten or twelve 

 leagues : and the middle part of Santa Maria, N. E. 

 one quarter northerly. We crowded sail towards the 

 latter, and at eleven the frigates lay to. Cape Rumena 

 bearing S. one quarter easterly distance four leagues, 

 and Cape Lavapies E. one quarter N. E. di.'itance 

 two leagues. The S. point of the island of Santa Ma- 

 ria bore N. E. four leagues distant, the N. point of 

 the same island N. N. E. and a large rock without, N. 

 one quarter easterly. Here we sent our long boat with 

 orders to go betwixt the islands and the continent, 

 and take a survey of it, and then join us in Conception 

 bay. Accordingly the frigates got under sail at 

 twelve at noon, with a fresh gale at S. S. E. and soon 

 after came to an anchor in the said bay. 

 ' Don George Juan, from his reckoning, concluded 

 that the Island of Santa Maria, which lies in 37'*3' S. 

 latitude, was 7°10' E. of the island de Afuera de Juan 

 Eernandes. Whereas I differed 14' from him, making 

 it only 6^56'. To 



* This I suppose is a mistake, and ought to be read thus : some- 

 times we saw the loomin!; of the sails, but could not perceive the 

 hull. A. 



