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INTRODUCTION. 
than they could conveniently govern, and of richer mines 
of the precious metals on that continent than they could 
convert into ufe, neither avarice nor ambition furnifhed 
reafons for aiming at a frefh acceflion of dominions. And 
thus, though fettled all along the fhores of this Ocean, in a 
lituation fo commodious for profecutingdifcoveries through¬ 
out its wide extent, the Spaniards remained fatisfied with a 
coalfing intercourfe between their own ports; never ftretch- 
ing acrofs the vaft gulph that feparates that part of America 
from Alia, but in an unvarying line of navigation; per¬ 
haps in a lingle annual Ihip, between Acapulco and Ma¬ 
nilla. 
The tracks of other European navigators of the South 
Pacific Ocean, were, in a great meafure, regulated by thofe 
of the Spaniards; and confequently limited within the fame 
narrow bounds. With the exception, perhaps, of two in- 
fiances only, thofe of Le Maire and Roggewein, no fhips of 
another nation had entered this fea, through the Strait of 
Magalhaens, or round Cape Horn, but for the purpofes of 
trade with the Spaniards, or of hoftility againft them: pur¬ 
pofes which could not be anfwered, without precluding 
any probable chance of adding much to our flock of dif- 
covery. For it was obvioully incumbent on all fuch ad¬ 
venturers, to confine their cruifes within a moderate diftance 
of the Spanifh fettlements; in the vicinity of which alone 
they could hope to exercife their commerce, or to exe¬ 
cute their predatory and military operations. Accordingly, 
foon after emerging from the Strait, or completing the 
circuit of Tierra del Fuego, they began to hold a Northerly 
courfe, to the uninhabited iiland of Juan Fernandez, their 
ufual fpot of rendezvous and refrefhment. And after 
ranging along the continent of America, from Chili to 
i California, 
