IN THE PACIFIC. 251 



mences very suddenly, and leaves off in the same 

 manner. It appears soon to exhaust itself on 

 leaving the land, so that the farther one is from 

 the shore the weaker it becomes, and I believe 

 that at a couple of hundred miles off it would 

 not be felt at all. This part of the coast is 

 admirably lighted by volcanoes, many of which 

 may be seen burning during the night ; these 

 not only afford a magnificent spectacle, but are 

 also of use to the mariner, whilst navigating 

 these seas, where the coast line is not very ac- 

 curately determined, and is moreover lighted 

 in no other way. 



On the 29th April we anchored in the small 

 but sheltered harbour of Guatulco ; this port 

 is very difficult to distinguish, and would be 

 still more so if it were not for a cave, with a 

 hole at the top, at the entrance; this rock, 

 called the " Bufadero," or bellows, spouts up 

 water like a whale, and the noise can be heard 

 at a considerable distance. Guatulco is only 

 interesting from having been visited by Sir 

 Francis Drake, more than 300 years ago : it is a 



