ace where the
Spanish pilots had at first asserted Acapulco to lie; that when they
had satisfied themselves in this particular, they steered to the
eastward, in hopes of discovering it, and had coasted along shore
thirty-two leagues; that in this whole range they met chiefly with
sandy beaches of a great length, over which the sea broke with so much
violence, that it was impossible for a boat to land; that at the
end of their run they could just discover two paps at a very great
distance to the eastward, which from their appearance and their
latitude, they concluded to be those in the neighbourhood of Acapulco;
but that not having a sufficient quantity of fresh water and provision
for their passage thither and back again, they were obliged to return
to the commodore, to acquaint him with their disappointment. On this
intelligence we all made sail to the eastward, in order to get into
the neighbourhood of that port, the commodore resolving to send the
barge a second time upon the same enterprize, when we were arrived
within a moderate distance. And the next day, which was the 12th of
February, we being by that time considerably advanced, the barge was
again dispatched, and particular instructions given to the officers
to preserve themselves from being seen from the shore. On the 13th we
espied a high land to the eastward, which we first imagined to be that
over the harbour of Acapulco; but we afterwards found that it was the
high land of Seguateneo, where there is a small harbour, of which we
shall have occasion to make more ample mention hereafter. And now,
having waited six days without any news of our barge, we began to be
uneasy for her safety; but, on the 7th day, that is, on the 19th of
February, she returned. The officers informed the commodore, that they
had discovered the harbour of Acapulco, which they esteemed to bear
from us E.S.E. at least fifty leagues distant: That on the 17th, about
two in the morning, they were got within the island that lies at
the mouth of the harbour, and yet neither the Spanish pilot, nor the
Indian who were with them, could give them any information where they
then were; but that while they were lying upon their oars in suspence
what to do, being ignorant that they were then at the very place
they sought for, they discerned a small light upon the surface of
the water, on which they instantly plied their paddles, and moving
as silently as possible towards it, they found it to be in a