CHAPTER VIL 
GALLAPAGOS ISLANDS J FISHERY. 
On the 9th May, we were, by lunar observation, in the longi¬ 
tude of 89° 12 ; W.; and on the meridian of the same day in lat. 
1° 18' 27" N. I found we were daily losing ground by the vio¬ 
lence of the N.W. currents, and believed we should make more 
head-way by taking the dullest sailer, the Montezuma, in tow; 
but after after getting 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 breechings of the 
guns, I found them entirely rotten and unserviceable. This gave 
me great uneasiness, for fear that I should not be enabled to re¬ 
medy the evilbut, on searching among our prizes, we found 
suitable rope to answer the purpose. 
At 4 o’clock on the evening of the 12th, we very unexpected¬ 
ly discovered land a-head, and on the weather bow; the wind con¬ 
tinuing light and baffling during the night, we kept plying to the 
southward, and in our endeavours we were greatly assisted by a 
strong current. In the morning we were about 4 leagues dis¬ 
tant from an island of considerable height, in the middle gradual¬ 
ly 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 appearance. I at first supposed it to be James’ Island, 
as did all the prisoners who were acquainted with its appear¬ 
ance; 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 ; and as I could 
not find any correspondence between the position of this and 
