whaling maſter and mates were in favour of a Northern Latitude, it was ſoon reſolved to take our departure from Cape Paſſado; which, from ſeveral obſervations, I place in Latitude ten miles South, and Longitude 82° Weſt.
I now ſtood acroſs the gulf, and, July 20.on the twentieth of July, fell in with the Iſle Malpelo; I had no deſcription of this place, and I was not induced from its name, which ſignifies bald head, to expect any advantage from it. I calculated its Latitude to be 4° 20′ North, and its Longitude 80° 45′ Weſt, diſtant from Cape Paſſado eighty-ſix leagues. It is a barren, and high, perpendicular rock, which may be ſeen, in clear weather, at the diſtance of twenty leagues. A ſmall quantity of green moſs, and a few dwarf buſhes, which grow in its cracks or gullies, afford the only verdure that it poſſeſſes: It is ſurrounded with iſlets, and the whole may extend about nine or ten miles from North to South. The centre, of this iſland, bears a reſemblance, in ſeveral points of view, to the crown of an head; and its being barren, accounts naturally enough for the name, which the Spaniards, have beſtowed upon it. Had I ſeen any ſeals off this place, I ſhould have conſidered it as a good ſituation for them.
