2 DISCOVER THREE ISLANDS. 



30*40 to 30'60, which last was the highest it 

 marked during the entire voyage. 



Dec. 10. In latitude 24 N., long. 115 W., 

 numerous shoals of bonita, albacore, and skip- 

 jacks, (Salt atrix y CatesbyJ came around us ; 

 several turtle also made their appearance ; and 

 the sea was covered with a large quantity of the 

 sea-weed named porra by the olden Spanish na- 

 vigators, who were accustomed to regard its 

 presence as an indication of their vicinity to the 

 coast of Mexico. 



At daylight on the morning of the 12th, 

 land was unexpectedly seen from the deck of the 

 ship, bearing N.N.E., distant thirty miles. It 

 proved to be a group of three islands, extending 

 in an east and west direction, of moderate size, 

 elevated, rocky, and apparently barren. By our 

 observations, this group lies in lat. 24 9' N., 

 long. 112 39' W. a spot where no land is laid 

 down in any of our charts. An ordinary map of 

 North America, of 1814, places islands in the 

 vicinity under the name of Celisos ;* but it is 

 more than probable that this group is the Lobos 

 (or Seal) Islands, laid down in Krusenstern's and 

 in Arrowsmith's charts 1 50 miles to the N.N.W. 

 of the position above assigned. 



* Probably a corruption of A lejos, signifying " in the 

 offing " or " afar off." 



