MEXICO. 



49 



north ; longitude 105^ 46' 55" west ; an agreement 

 sufficiently near. Our difference of longitude was as-, 

 certained by chronometers next day from San Bias, 

 where the longitude was afterwards determined by 

 an occupation of a fixed star. 



Cape Corrientes lies in latitude 20^ north ; 

 longitude 105° 42' 26" west, or 23' 59" west from 

 San Bias, 



During our stay at San Bias, from the 28th of 

 March to the 15th of June, we had light land-winds 

 every night, and a moderately fresh breeze from west 

 every day, with the thermometer always above SO'^. 



Towards the end of the period, the sky, which 

 had been heretofore clear, became overcast; the 

 weather lost its former serene character, becoming 

 dark and unsettled ; and, on the 1st of June, the pe- 

 riodical rains set in with great violence, accompa- 

 nied by thunder and lightning, and fresh winds 

 from due south. This was nearly a fortnight earlier 

 than the average period. The heat and closeness 

 of the weather increased greatly after the rains set 

 in ; but although our men were much exposed, no 

 sickness ensued, excepting a few cases of highly in- 

 flammatory fever. The town was almost complete- 

 ly deserted when we came away ; the inhabitants 



VOL. II. d 



