646 • ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA.' 



The land of this whole coaft is low ; but there are two figns which evidently indi- 

 cate its being near. Firfl the fea-wolves, which are feen near thefe iflands, and at 

 three or four leagues diftant from them. The fecond is the great flocks of birds all 

 along this coaft, flying two or three leagues from the fliore, in queft of food. And 

 though fogs are very frequent here, and fo thick as to hide the land, yet its diftance 

 may be nearly known from thefe figns in the day-time ; but at night more circumfpec- 

 tion is neceflary on account of the extreme lownefs of the ftiore. And though the 

 iflands of Lobos are fomething higher than the coaft, too much caution cannot be ufed 

 in approaching them. 



It is common in this voyage if the fhip is intended to touch at Paita, and has not had 

 fight of the iflands of Lobos in the day-time, when in their latitude, to lie-to all night. 

 But if they do not propofe to ftop at Paita, proper attention muft be given to the 

 courfe, and the voyage continued. If the fliip be bound to Paita, there is a neceflity 

 for making thefe iflands, or the continent near them to the north, in order to avoid 

 being carried beyond the port by the currents ; as in fuch a cafe a great deal of time 

 would be loft in getting back, both the wind and currents being contrary. 



From Paita, the coaft is always kept in fight ; but a careful look-out is neceflary in 

 order to difcover the Negrilos, rocky flioals, projeding four or five leagues diftant 

 from the ftiore, and lying betwixt Paita and Cape Blanco, one of the points of 

 Guayaquil bay. The winds during this whole paflage are ufually fouth, but in the 

 fummer, that is, from November to May, fometimes veer as far as fouth-eaft. Near the 

 coaft is a periodical morning breeze, or faint eafterly wind, which ftiifts round to the 

 fouth-eaft or fouth-fouth-eaft, and in this feafon, at any diftance from the coaft, the 

 fouth winds are alfo faint ; nor are the calms uncommon, though they are of fliort 

 continuance ; but the brifas never reach fo far : and this renders the voyage from 

 Paita to Callao fo very long in all feafons. For if a ftiip ftretches out to a great 

 diftance from the coaft, the winds, even within ten or twelve leagues, fliift from fouth 

 to fouth-weft, but if flie keeps along the fliore and endeavours to perform her voyage 

 by tacking, flie lofes on one what flie gained on another. Befides, during the winter 

 the currents fet ftrongly towards the north or north-weft, and confequently render the 

 voyage ftill more tedious. In fummer there is here generally no current, or if any do 

 fet to the northward, it is fcarcely perceived ; the direftion of the current in that feafon 

 being generally weft. This proceeds from the brifas blowing from the north of the 

 equator, though they are unable to change the fet of the current to the fouth as would 

 be the natural confequence, were it not for the refiftance it meets with from the waters 

 agitated by the fouth winds to the fouthward of the equinodial ; but by meeting each 

 other they run towards the weft. There are, however, fome fliort intervals during 

 the fummer, when the currents fuddenly change their direction, and run to the fouth- 

 ward, but at no great diftance from the fliore ; and in the fame inftantaneous manner 

 fliift about to an oppofite point ; and this is the reafon why moft ftiips coming from 

 Paita to Callao in this feafon keep near the fliore, and work up to windward, hoping, 

 by the favourable change of the currents, to acquire that afliftance which the winds 

 deny. 



At all times this voyage is of a moft difagreeable and fatiguing length ; for though 

 the diftance, according to the latitude of thefe ports, be only one hundred and forty 

 leagues, a fliip is very fortunate to perform it in forty or fifty days ; and if even after 

 fpending that time in continual labour, fhe be not obliged to return again to Paita : 

 fuch accidents being very common ; and it is nothing extraordinary to meet with two 

 or three misfortunes of the fame kmd fucceflively, efpecially if the fliips make a great 

 I deal 



