58 Cordovans Vox/ age of Discovery 



SE. and, at 2 p.m., we crossed the Equinoctial, about 22f^ W. 

 from Cadiz, according to the time-piece No. 71, for our reck- 

 oning was more to the eastward. This point was at least 4^ 

 to the westward of what is laid down in most ships' reckonings ; 

 but the observations we made, on crossing the Line to the south- 

 ward, ought to have greater weight in this case, when the same 

 interruptions are not to be apprehended as in the other. JNavi- 

 gators should tlierefore cross where they can, and not expose 

 themselves to be detained in these seas, which may be attended 

 with very dangerous consequences. 



This night we were obliged to sail with great caution, on 

 account of the rock of San Pedro, whose situation is so uncer- 

 tain. We wished much to have passed it in the day-time, that 

 we might, by means of lunar distances, have ascertained its po- 

 sition. Many persons doubt even its existence ; but several of 

 our crew, amongst whom was one of our under-pilots, asserted 

 that they had seen it on former voyages. 



On the 1st of May, at day-break, we descried a vessel to 

 windward coming down on us: at 8 a.m. she hoisted English 

 colours, to which we answered with the Spanish, and lay-to to 

 wait for her. At ]0 a.m. an officer went on-board her, who 

 reported that she came from the coast of Angola in Africa, with 

 four hundred negroes, and was bound for Barbadoes. She was 

 called the Fanny of London, Thomas Smith, master, Avho 

 considered himself to be in longitude W. from London, and 

 therefore two or three degrees to the eastward of us ; of which 

 we gave him notice. He could furnish none of the articles we 

 wanted, only some tobacco, of which, with the greatest cheer- 

 fulness, he supphed us with fifteen or twenty pounds, which 

 was immediately distributed among the crew. We enquired if 

 he stood in need of any assistance from us, to which he an- 

 swered in the negative \ and proceeded on his course. When 

 night came on, he was no longer in sight. 



We continued to stand to the northward, with the wind from 

 E. to NE. and NNE. At night the sky was very cloudy, with 

 constant rains and squalls of wind from time to time. The 

 following day passed in calms and rain, until 9 p.m. after a 

 very heavy shower, when the wind set in from E. ; we there- 

 fore ran N. suiting our sail to this rainy squally weather. 



On the 3d, towards evening, we saw a number of white 

 birds flying against the wind, but they were at too great a 

 distance for us to discover of what kind they were ; only we can 

 say, that they are not commonly met with in these parts of the 

 Ocean ; and, two days afterwards, another small bird alighted 

 on the ship, when we were in N. lat. lO'^, and W. long. £9°. 

 It had, no doubt, been forced off the land by the late violent 



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