This was an undertaking that few, who had ſuffered as I had done, from the yellow fever, in the priſons of New Spain, as well as from all the horrors of a rainy ſeaſon on that coaſt, would have encountered; but I was perſuaded, within myſelf, that there muſt be plenty of ſpermaceti whales on this coaſt; and it was very evident, that if ſucceſſful in killing them in the rainy ſeaſon, it muſt be much more eaſily done in the dry ſeaſon. At all events, I was determined to make the experiment.
On leaving the Iſle Cocas, we ſtood away to the Weſtward and Northward, in the hope of, avoiding the rain in ſome degree, by keeping at a ſmall diſtance from the land.
Auguſt 1.On the firſt of Auguſt we were in Latitude by obſervation 9° 2′, and Longitude corrected 90° 0′ Weſt. We bettered our weather greatly; but the heat was almoſt intolerable; the thermometer ſtanding at 86°, and the barometer at 29-7-8; the wind now began to vary to the Eaſtward.
3.On the third of Auguſt our Latitude was 9° 30′ and Longitude corrected 89° 44′. The bad weather returned and continued with frequent tornados and heavy rain.
