PAYTA. 



133 



ing waves, with a roaring noise. Towards mid- 

 day the breeze caught us, and we sailed a long 

 distance before the sun set. It was just at this 

 hour that we approached our destination, near 

 enough to observe a signal-post and flag, already 

 hoisted on a hill, to give notice to Payta of our 

 coming. We thought, on turning the headland 

 near us, we should be in the bay where the 

 town is built ; and in order to save time, and 

 get in cleverly without overshooting our mark, 

 in a strong current, aided by a fresh breeze, we 

 stood in close to a point of land, and were very 

 nearly drifted on some rocks, which we had not 

 perceived until we were close upon them. 



When we had entered this bay, we expected 

 to see the town of Payta ; but, to our surprise, 

 we saw nothing except the same barren shore all 

 round us, without a sign of human habitation 

 in any direction. Upon this, a sailor who had 



