and, when within the ſame diſtance from the main land, they inclined to the Weſtward: the weather was generally cloudy, and ſometimes accompanied with an heavy, South Weſt ſwell, and at the change and full of the moon, with a drizzling rain.
July 10.On the tenth of July, P. M., we ſaw the Iſle of Plata, bearing Eaſt North Eaſt, nine or ten leagues, and, on the following day, in the morning, we ſaw ſpermaceti whales, but did not get up with them until the afternoon, the Iſle Plata bearing Eaſt by South, at the diſtance of five or ſix leagues. One of them was ſtruck, but the boat was accidentally ſtove to pieces, and we beat off for ſeveral days, but never got another view of them.
The Iſle Plata[1] had been a favourite place of reſort to the Buccaneers, it being moſt conveniently ſituated to watch the Plata fleets to and from Lima; but all traders, either to or from the coaſt of Mexico, or between Panama and the coaſt of Peru, make the land a little to the Northward of it. If we may believe the Buccaneers, this iſland has plenty of water and turtle, and abounded with goats, till the Spaniards deſtroyed them. The watering and anchoring places are ſaid to be on the Eaſtern ſide, in a ſmall ſandy bay, half a mile from the ſhore, in eighteen or twenty fathoms water.
- ↑ So named by the Spaniards, from Admiral Sir Francis Drake dividing his plunder at it.
