VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
127
January 2.ſecond the weather moderated, but became very changeable and foggy, with alternate calms and light winds. The night was moiſt with heavy dews, the colour of the ſea frequently changed and there was much broken and white water. I kept the deep ſea-lead conſtantly employed, but found no bottom at one hundred and fifty fathom, in Latitude 13° 33′ North. The winds weſtered on us and were ſucceeded by light and changeable breezes till we got into the Latitude 12° 48′, when we fell in with innumerable flights of thoſe birds which are known to follow whale, and of which we had not ſeen ſuch numbers ſince we were ſearching for the Iſle Grande in the Atlantic Ocean.
16.On the ſixteenth we ſaw a ſail to the Southward between us and the ſhore, and ſtanding to the Northward and Weſtward. At noon, being in Latitude 12° 14′ 15″ North, we hove too to ſpeak to her, our ſoundings were ſixty fathoms, the volcano of Guatamala bearing North Eaſt by North, diſtant ten or eleven leagues. The veſſel neared us conſiderably by one o'clock, and diſplayed Spaniſh colours: when it proved calm I ſent the boat with the whaling maſter to board her, which he accordingly did, and returned with two ſheep, ſix fowls, twelve tongues, ſeveral pumpkins and two bags of bread. The ſupercargo, who accompanied this preſent, brought an excuſe from the maſter of the veſſel,