INTRODUCTION. 



xi 



there joined the flota, and what other fhips are bound to Eu- 

 rope, they fleer northward as high as Ca?^olina^ and there taking 

 the wefterly wdnds, they (liape their coiirfe to the Azorc, where 

 having watered and viduailed afrefli at Tercera^ they thence con- 

 tinue their voyage to Cadiz. 



The Flota confifts, like the galleons, of a certain number of 

 men of war and merchant-fbips. There are feldom more than 

 three of the former m this fleet, called la Capitana^ la Adtni- 

 rante^ and la Patacha ; and ufually about flxteen of the latter. 

 They fet fail fometime in the month oiAugufi, in order to obtain 

 the benefit of the winds that blow in November, for the more 

 eaiily purfuing their voyage to F'era Cruz. They call at Pu- 

 erto Rico in their way, to refrefh, pafs in fight of Hifpaniola^ 

 yamaica, and Cuba, and, according to the winds and feafon, 

 fail either by the coaft of Jucatan^ or higher through the 

 gulph to V era Cruz, which lies at the bottom of it. The run 

 of this fleet, according to the abovementioned cruize, has been 

 thus computed \ they allow ten days for the paffage from Cadiz- 

 to the Canaries^ 250 leagues; twenty days to fail from hence 

 to the Antilles, 800 leagues ; twenty days likewife from thence 

 to the moft weftern extremity of Cuba^ 500 leagues ; and 

 twelve or thirteen days more for their arrival at Vera Cruz, 

 about 260 leagues; in the whole about 18 10 leagues in fixty- 

 two days. The flota being intended to furnifh not only Mex- 

 ico^ but the Philippine iflands alfo, with the goods of Europe, 



b 2 is 



