Ch. I. SOUTH AMERICA. 145 



fary. And on the 24th, at 7 in the morning, we 

 iafely anchored in Puna harbour ; Cape Centinela 

 bearing S. S. W. 2"" 30' wefterly, and Cape Maria 

 Mandinga W. N. W. i° 15 wellerly, diftant one 

 quarter of a league. 



From Punta de Mala to St» Matthew's bay, we 

 had the wind firfl; at N. and N. W. afterwards it 

 fliifted to the N. E. and during the laft day veered 

 to the E. N. E. but when we came in fight of this 

 bay, changed again to the N. being preceded by rains, 

 which continued till our arrival at Manta, the winds 

 having fhifted to the S. E. fouth, and S. W. and wefb* 

 but with fome variations from all thofe points. 



I HAVE already mentioned that at St. Matthew's 

 bay, it was not only the opinion of the pilots relating 

 to the currents which fet towards Gorgona, but alfo 

 our own experience, that induced us to alter our courfe, 

 which was necefiary, in order to continue our voyage. 

 All the rett of the coall, from Cape St. Francis to 

 Manta, they fet to the N. and this prevented us from 

 getting to windward, and obliged us to tack, as the 

 wind was conttary. 



In our pafiage from Manta to Cape Blanco, the 

 winds were not lefs favourable, continuing as before, 

 except a few gales at N. W. and N. N. E. till we 

 made the above cape. The currents here alfo fet to 

 the northwards \ and from Cape Blanco to Puna har- 

 bour, to feaward, that is, towards the wefl •, but, as 

 we have before obfervcd, ar greater velocity on the 

 ebb than on the flood. 



Being very defirous of obferving an eclipfe of 

 the moon, which was to happen on the 26th of 

 March, and our time for preparing for it being but 

 fhort, we concluded to ilay at a little village fituated 

 in this harbour-, but finding thefe houfes, v^'hich were 

 entirely built of canes, too weak to fupport the pen- 

 dulumy we determined to make the beli; of our way 

 to Guayaquil^ and accordingly, at half an hour after 



Vol. I. L eleven 



