392 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



If a fhip happens to come in fight of the ifland of Gorgona, it will be found very 

 difficult to get clear of it by fleering either fouth-fouth-wefl, or even north, fo that 

 the furefl method is to return towards Panama along the coafl, the currents there 

 changing their direction ; at the fame time taking care not to keep at a great diflance 

 from it, to avoid being again carried away by the current, which fets fouth-eaft. 



The land all along the coafl from Panama to Santa Elena is of a middling height, 

 except in fome parts, where we difcern mountains at a vafl diflance, and very high ; 

 being part of the Cordillera. Monte Chriflo is the land-mark of Manta, being a 

 high mountain, and having a village of the fame name at its foot. 



In the bays along this coafl, and particularly at the mouths of rivers, it is dan- 

 gerous to keep clofe to the fhore, there being many fhallows not known even to the 

 pilots of the country. In the bay of Manta, there is one at the diflance of three or 

 four leagues from the fhore, on which feveral fhips have flruck ; but the water is' 

 here fo fmooth, that all the damage they fuflained was, their being obliged to be 

 immediately careened, in order to flop the leaks occafioned by the accident. 



In all this pafTage a rough fea is feldom met with ; for, if it be fometimes agitated 

 by fqualls and fhort tempefls, it foon fubfides after the florm is over. Whilfl the 

 fouth winds prevail, fogs are very frequent, and fometimes fo thick as totally to pre- 

 clude all fight of the coafl. This we ourfelves partly experienced in our pafTage : 

 whereas during the brifas, it is quite the contrary : the air is ferene, and the coafi fo 

 clear as to be approached with confidence and fafety. 



CHAP. III. — Of our Stay at Guayaquil, and the Meafures taken for our Journey to 



the Mountains, 



THE fhip St. Chriflopher, which we left at Puna, followed us fo foon, that on 

 the 26th in the evening fhe came to an anchor before the city ; the next day all our 

 baggage and inflruments were landed, and we began our obfervations for determining 

 the fituation of Guayaquil, with regard to its latitude and longitude. The defire of 

 fucceeding rendered us very attentive to obferve an immerfion of the fatellites of Jupiter, 

 to make amends for our difappointment of the eclipfe of the moon ; but we were in 

 this equally unfortunate ; the denfity of the vapours which filled the atmofphere ren- 

 dered our defign abortive ; but, the days being more favourable than the nights for 

 aflronomical obfervations, we took feveral meridian altitudes of the fun, and never 

 negleded any opportunities that offered, during the nights, of doing the fame with 

 regard to fome particular flars. 



On our arrival at Guayaquil, tlie corregidor of that city, whofe great civility, 

 together with that of all the King's officers and other perfons of diflindion, deferves 

 our acknowledgments, fent notice of it to the corregidor of Guaranda, that he might 

 order carriages to the port of Caracol, for conveying us to the mountains. The 

 pafTage thither was then indeed impracticable j it being in this country the end of 

 winter, at which time the roads are extremely bad, and the rivers fwelled fo as not 

 to be forded without the greatefl rifk, and too wide for the bridges of this country. 



The corregidor of Guaranda was then at Quito on fome bufmefs of his office ; but 

 the prefident and governor of that province, Don Dionyfio de Alcedoy Herrera, 

 ordered him to return to his jurifdiQiion without delay, for providing every thing necef- 

 fary for our journey ; fending, at the fame time, circular orders to all the other corre- 

 gidorsy through whofe jurifdidions we were to pafs to Quito, enjoining them not to be 



wanting 



