The Iſland of Malpelo, can be of no uſe, but as a place of rendezvous; it is ſurrounded, as it were, by a ſtrong current, having much the appearance of breakers, which, ſetting into the gulf and being accompanied by light winds, with thick and hazy weather, I did not think it deſerving of any further attention. We tried the current and found it to ſet North Eaſt by Eaſt, by compaſs two miles and an half in the hour.
From the Iſland Malpelo, we ſtretched away, to the Weſtward for Iſle Cocas, which we made July 25.on the twenty-fifth at midnight. The whole of the paſſage thither, we had threatening, ſqually and ſhowery weather, with inceſſant and heavy rain, and, at intervals, thunder and lightning: we had a ſhort, irregular head ſea, with winds from South, South Weſt, to Weſt South Weſt. Porpoiſes accompanied us in great numbers; and as we approached the Iſle Cocas, there appeared large flights of boobies, egg-birds, and man of war hawks. We alſo ſaw a fin-back whale, and two grampuſes, with innumerable bonettas, dolphins, and albacores.
At break of day, the weather was thick and rainy; and, though the land was covered by the fog, we diſ-