234 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



overhauled a schooner which we had seen at 

 noon ten miles dead to windward. 



There is a dangerous reef between Cape 

 Escopardo, and Galera Island, called the San 

 Jose Bank, one rock of which is nearly 

 awash; the strong current running out of 

 the river San Miguel, sets directly upon this 

 reef, and it is necessary to be particularly 

 cautious in approaching it. During the night 

 the wind dropped, and we found ourselves 

 being drifted unpleasantly near the shoal, so 

 we anchored to avoid being set upon it. The 

 vicinity of the reef was indicated by large 

 shoals of fish, including sharks, porpoises, 

 &c. ; several whales were also in sight. As 

 soon as the tide had turned, we weighed our 

 anchor and stood over to the Island of San 

 Jose, one of the Pearl group, and anchored 

 in a fine bay on the east side of it. The next 

 morning I ran down in the gig to examine 

 the southern point of the island, with a view 

 to the erection of a lighthouse upon it. A 

 heavy surf broke upon the rocks near the 



