fortee's journal, 



I 



CHAPTER ViL 



GALLIPAGOS ISLANDS ; FISHERY. 



On the 9th of May, we vvere, by lunar observation, in the 

 longitude of 89° 12' west ; and on the meridian of the same 

 day in latitude V 18' 27" north. I found we were daily 

 losing ground by the violence of the northwest currents, 

 and believed we should make more head-way by taking 

 the dullest sailer, the Montezuma, in tow. But after get- 

 ting a hawser fast to her, we found that the best sailers, 

 with all the canvas they could spread, could not keep way 

 with us, and we were frequently obliged to shorten sail for 

 them to come up. 



As the weather was yet fine, I continued putting the ship 

 in a good state for service ; and on examining the bre sell- 

 ings of the guns, I found them entirely rotten and unservice- 

 able. ThiS'gave me great uneasiness, for fear that I should 

 not be enabled to remedy the evil; but, on searching 

 among our prizes, wc found suitable rope to answer the 

 purpose. 



At four o'clock on the evening of the 12th, we very un- 

 expectedly discovered land ahead, and on the weatl'er 'jow. 

 The wind continuing light and baffling during tiie 

 kept plying to the southward, and in our endeavciL : . . 

 greatly assisted by a strong current. In the mornint; we 

 were about four leagues distant from an island of consider- 

 able height in the middle, gradually sloping off every way 

 to long low points, and bounded on every part (within sight) 

 by fine long sandy beaches. The island appeared covered 

 with verdure, and had a very agreeable and inviting appear- 

 ance. I at first supposed it to be James' Island, as did 

 all the prisoners who were acquainted with its appearance ; 

 but they all declared, that although it had some resem- 

 blance to that island, they could not recollect the sandy 

 beaches and fine bays with which this appeared indented* 

 As I could not find any correspondence between the posi- 

 tion of this and other islandsjn^sight, with those laid down 



