POKTEIi 3 JOURNAL. 



187 



with the island of La Plata. As the haziness of the wea- 

 ther gave this the appearance of an island, I was fully im- 

 pressed with a belief of this being La Plata, made every 

 preparation for anchoring, and stood boldly in, keeping the 

 lead going, having regular soundings and muddy bottom 5 

 our first cast of the lead giving us forty-five, which gradu- 

 ally shoaled to twenty-five fathoms, without any material 

 change in the quality of the bottom. At break of day we 

 were not more than two and a half miles from the shore, 

 and standing in for a white sandy beach, on which I saw 

 some fishermen hauling their nets. As it grew fight I dig- 

 covered the steeple of a church, and shortly afterwards a 

 town in the mountains. The haze now cleared off, and ena- 

 bled me to see a great extent of coast. I soon perceived that 

 we had mistaken Cape Lorenzo for the island of Plata, 

 and had been set by the current, which had changed during 

 the night, into the deep bay formed by that and Cape Pa- 

 sado, in which is the convenient port of Manta, which 

 takes its name from a fish of that name, caught there in 

 great abundance. I had made the signal to prepare to an- 

 chor-, but, on discovering my mistake, soon changed my 

 determination, although 1 perceived no danger, and indeed 

 sent a boat in to sound, within a quarter of a mile of the 

 shore, where good anchorage was to be had in fifteen fa- 

 thoms water, well sheltered from the prevalent winds, and 

 smooth landing. But I could perceive no rivulet of water, 

 though it is not improbable one is to be found there, as the 

 land was very much cut up by deep ravines. This place 

 afforded convenient anchorage ; but my object was to touch 

 at the island of Plata, which I had understood furnished 

 both wood and water, as well as good anchorage on the 

 east side, in twenty fathoms, opposite to a small sandy 

 bay. At this place, it is said, admiral Drake anchored, 

 and divided his plunder 5 and as it was reported to be a 

 place little frequented, and furnishing both hogs and goats, I 

 believed (should it answer the description given of it) that 

 it would be an admirable place for a rendezvous. All 

 British, and indeed other vessels, bound either from the 

 Gallipagos to Tumbez, as well as those from Mexico, Pa- 

 nama, &;c. 8zc.y and bound to the south, pass within sight 

 of this island, as indeed do those bound to the north from 

 liima and other parts of Peru, as well as those from the 



