never known, and nature reſts in perfect tranquility), would when here, naturally remark, that Providence had bleſſed the coaſts of Peru, by exempting that country from all convulſions to be dreaded from the aerial elements, and doubly beſtowed them as a curſe on this; unleſs they are to be conſidered as a bleſſing, to impreſs the untutored Indian inhabitant, "by ſeeing God in clouds and hearing him in the winds", with a due idea of his Almighty power. It is alſo to be hoped, that a native and reſident in Peru, feels, ſometimes, ideas of gratitude and thankfulneſs towards his maker, for his goodneſs. We ſounded frequently, in the gulf, at twelve or thirteen leagues diſtance from the ſhore, and found no bottom with one hundred and fifty fathoms of line: but when in Latitude 14° 57′, and at ten or eleven leagues diſtant, we got bottom, at one hundred and five fathoms, which was muddy.
Auguſt 19.On the nineteenth of Auguſt, when two papps over point Angels, bore North Eaſt, and our Latitude was 16° 13′ North, we ſaw a large body of ſpermaceti whales, and though the ſpirits of my people, were in ſome degree depreſſed, by reflecting on the immenſe body of water over which we had ſailed, the little ſucceſs which we had hitherto experienced, and our being at lead a ſeven months voyage from England, they were now elated, with all the eagerneſs of ſanguine expectation. The boats accordingly gave chaſe, and ſoon came up