120
VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
the place where we firſt anchored, and remarkable from the pinnacle rocks which lay cloſe off the Weſt point of the bay. I prefer this place in the bad ſeaſon, as the wind ſeldom blows more than two points to the Southward of the Eaſt. In the good ſeaſon, however, that is, from the latter end of December till the beginning of June, I prefer the South Eaſt bay, being better anchorage and nearer to the cove, which was the only good landing place we diſcovered, and is eaſily known, being a ſtony beech at the firſt inlet in the ſhore to the Eaſtward of the South point: all other part of the coaſt on the South ſide of the iſland is iron bound, which makes it extremely difficult, if not impoſſible to land, except in very fine weather.
According to the accounts given of the winds in this Latitude by former navigators, the South Eaſt bay would at all times afford a ſecure anchorage; but I found it otherwiſe: though ſuch a change might be owing to the ſeaſons falling later now than formerly, or in one year later than another. The Buccaneers aſſert, and Lord Anſon confirms their aſſertion, that at the time he was cruizing for the Galeon, there was no reaſon to apprehend danger on the Coaſt of Mexico, from the middle of October till May. But my journal will ſhew, from