38 



WINDS AND WEATHER ON 



found, or very rarely, that a greater shift could be 

 reckoned on than four points. With this, however, 

 and the greatest diligence, a daily progress of from 

 thirty to fifty miles may be made. 



Such being the general state of the winds on this 

 coast, it is necessary to attend to the following direc- 

 tions for making a passage from the eastward. 



On leaving Panama for Realejo or Sonsonate, 

 come out direct to the north westward of the Isla 

 del Rey — keep from twenty to thirty leagues off the 

 shore as far as Cape Blanco de Nicoya, and on this 

 passage advantage must be taken of every shift of 

 wind to get to the north-westward. From Cape 

 Blanco hug the shore, in order to take advantage of 

 the north-easterly winds which prevail close in. 

 If a Papagayo (as the strong breeze out of that gulf is 

 called) be met with, the passage to Sonsonate be- 

 comes very short. 



From Sonsonate to Acapulco keep at the distance 

 of twenty, or at most thirty leagues from the coast. 

 We met with very strong currents running to the 

 eastward at this part of the passage ; but whether 

 by keeping farther in or farther out we should have 

 avoided them, I am unable to say. The above di- 

 rection is that usually held to be the best by the old 

 coasters. 



