July 16.On the ſixteenth, at noon, off Cape Paſſado, the land behind inviſible from the hazy weather, we were, by obſervation, in fifty-ſeven miles South. On the ſame day, we gave chaſe to, and came up with, a Spaniſh ſnow, from Acapulco to Lima, from whom we procured ſome freſh beef, and two cocks; for which we returned a few bottles of wine and porter, with ſome ſweet-meats, the maſter being ſick.
18.On the eighteenth, the weather became clouded and threatening, and I was every hour expecting to fall in with the heavy rains, which happen on the coaſt of Mexico, from November to July. The air alſo became hot and ſultry, and we had frequent ſhowers of rain. The thermometer now roſe to 80°, and we may be ſaid to have felt, at every pore, that we had left the moſt delightful climate in the world, to encounter the parching airs of the torrid zone[1]. The ſeals and birds, which are inhabitants of the frigid zone, but which I have ſeen as far South, as 70°, appearing to be delighted on the coaſt of Peru, as if inſtinct had forbidden them to venture no farther, now left us.
At this time it became neceſſary to determine, what route we ſhould take, whether we ſhould return to the Southward, or proceed to the Northward; but, as the
- ↑ On the coaſt of Peru it never rains.
