ered the island of Supata, the westermost of the
Lema islands. This island they made to be an hundred and thirty-nine
leagues distant from Grafton's island, and to bear from it north 82 deg.,
37 deg. west: And, on the 11th, having taken on board two Chinese pilots,
one for the Centurion, and the other for the prize, they came to an
anchor off the city of Macao.

By this time the particulars of the cargo of the galleon were well
ascertained, and it was found that she had on board 1,313,843 pieces
of eight, and 35,682 oz. of virgin silver, besides some cochineal, and
a few other commodities, which, however, were but of small account, in
comparison of the specie. And this being the commodore's last prize,
it hence appears, that all the treasure taken by the Centurion was
not much short of 400,000l. independent of the ships and merchandise,
which she either burnt or destroyed, and which, by the most reasonable
estimation, could not amount to so little as 600,000l. more; so that
the whole loss of the enemy, by our squadron, did doubtless exceed a
million sterling. To which, if there be added the great expence of the
court of Spain, in fitting out Pizarro, and in paying the additional
charges in America, incurred on our account, together with the loss
of their men of war, the total of all these articles will be a most
exorbitant sum, and is the strongest conviction of the utility of this
expedition, which, with all its numerous disadvantages, did yet prove
so extremely prejudicial to the enemy.

SECTION XXXI.

_Transactions in the River of Canton._

The commodore, having taken pilots on board, proceeded with his prize
for the river of Canton; and on the 14th of July, came to an anchor
short of the Bocca Tigris, which is a narrow passage forming the mouth
of that river: This entrance he proposed to stand through the next
day, and to run up as far as Tiger island, which is a very safe road,
secured from all winds. But whilst the Centurion and her prize were
thus at anchor, a boat with an officer came off from the mandarine,
commanding the forts at Bocca Tigris, to examine what the ships were,
and whence they came. Mr Anson informed the officer, that his ship was
a ship of war, belonging to the king of Great Britain; and that the
other in company with him was a prize he had taken; that he was going
into Canton river to shelter himself against the hurricanes which were
then coming on; and that as soon as the monsoon shift