zS6 A V O Y A G E T O T H E
1787. Forenoon was moderate, the weather thick and hazy, with a very
November. heavy fwell from the North North Eaft.
At twoo’clock we faw a fmalt ifland bearing North 40 deg. Weft,
cabout five leagues diftant; and prefently afterwards higher land appeared
behind it, which we foon found to be an ifland, but con-
fiderably larger than the firft. As we had no obfervation at noon
to determine the latitude, we had various conjeftures at firft
what land this could be, feme thinking the large ifland to be the
South point of Formofa, and the fmaller one Villa-Rete,, but we
foon found thefe iflands to be Botel Tobago Xima.
At fix o’clock the land bore North 24 deg. Weft, 1 '2 miles diftant,
the weather ftill thick and hazy. Towards nine o’clock we hauled
by the wind to the Southward, making occafional boards during
the night, as we judged Villa-Rete to be to the Weftward, and
•confequently it was not prudent to ftand on.
In the forenoon of the 5th, we had frequent fqualls with rain,
a heavy fwell fetting in from the Northward, . Our latitude at
noon was 21 deg. 35 min. North} -and the longitude 239 deg. 37
min. Weft. The wind blowing a frelh gale towards evening, we
dofe-reefed the topfails, and apprehending ourfelves clear of any
danger, we ftood on during the night, fleering Weft North Weft,
with a frelh breeze at North North Eaft.
At day-light in the morning of the 6th, we made fail, the
weather being pretty moderate, the wind ftill hauling to the
Northward. Our latitude at noon was 21 deg. 37 min. and the
longitude 241 deg. 55 min. Weft. During the afternoon we
had a ftrong breeze and cloudy weather, a heavy fwell ftill fetting
2 from
N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T O F AM E R PC A.
from the Northward. The nights being dark, and generally 1787.
fqually, in the evening we clofe-reefed the topfails and reefed the ^fove‘nbc'j
mainfail.
At eight o’clock in the morning of the 7th, we faw land, bearing
North Weft, four or five leagues diftant. On founding, we
ftruck the bottom, with a line of twenty-five fathom, grey fand.
In the forenoon we palled fix Chinefe fifhing-boats. Our latitude
at noon was 22 deg. 22 min. North. In the afternoon we faw a
great number of fifliing-boats, and at five o’clock faw Pedro-
Bianco, a large rock, which has the appearance of a hay-ftack,.
bearing Weft, about ten miles diftant. In the evening we lhort-
ened fail, and hauled by the wind to the Southward, making oc-
eafional boards during the night.
At fix o’clock in the morning of the 8th, we made fail. The
land in light proved to be the Lema IJlands, the extremes of which.
bore from North Eaft to Weft North Weft, about five leagues diftant.
On founding, we had a fandy bottom with twenty-four fathom
line. Though there was a great number of Chinefe boats at
a fmall diftance from us, yet no pilot coming on board, at eleven
o’clock we made a fignal for one, and prelently afterwards an old
Chinaman came on board as a pilot, bringing certificates from a
number of Captains whom he had taken to Macao. Hegaveus to
underftand that he could take the veflel no farther than Macao,
and demanded fifty dollars to carry us there, but at length agreed
for thirty dollars. Our latitude at noon was 22 deg. 7mm. North. ■
By this time we were near the entrance, of the Lema Iflands,
which are very numerous, and have a molt uncomfortable, barren,
and dreary appearance.
During