Ch.III. south AMERICA, -19 



America, than to want but one of being to wind V7ard 

 of it for to gain only this one league, the Ihip muft 

 go a great way back to the fouthward, before flie will 

 be able to get round the cape ; efpeciaily as there is 

 little chance of having a fair wind. In a fubfequent 

 chapter, I iliall more fully confider this fubjed, and 

 fpecify other precautions neceffary to be obferved in 

 failing; on that ocean. 



CHAP. nr. 



Arrival at Fernando de Norona, Deferip^ 

 tion of the IJland, ^* 



WE now from our reckonings and other figns 

 concluded that we could not be at any great 

 diftance from the illand we were fearching for j and 

 accordingly on the 20th of May, v/hen a fog came 

 on with rain, we laid to under our top-fails, rather 

 from an apprehenfion of overfhooting the ifland than 

 of lofing company or running foul of each other. On 

 the 2 1 it, having an appearance of fair weather, the 

 frigates made fail, and at half an hour after nine,- the 

 Louis Erafme difcovered the ifland bearins: weft one 

 quarter foutherly, diftance nine leagues, as was after- 

 wards verified by the log-line. 



This ifland we imagined to be totally defart-, but 

 from a fuppofition that for the conveniency of its har- 

 bour, fhips of any nation returning from the Eaft- In- 

 dies might, either for water, or on any other neceffary 

 occafion put in there, it was agreed by the captains of 



the 



* The Pcrtugueze have indnilricufly fpread a report of the bar- 

 xennefs of this ifland, although it is well known to thofe who have 

 had the fortune to touch here, ihat there is not a more fertile 

 ifland^ in thefe feas, nor any one that affords fuch plenty of necef- 

 faries, which every fliip flanUs in need of after a long paiTage. A 



