belonging to some merchants of Lima, which
was intended to be shipped on board a vessel, then in the harbour of
Payta, and was preparing to sail for the bay of _Sansonnate_, on
the coast of Mexico, in order to purchase a part of the cargo of the
Manilla ship.

[Footnote 4: San Migual de Piura is about 50 English miles E. by S.
from Payta, and nearly the same distance from the mouth of the Piura
river.--E.]

As the vessel in which this money was to be shipped was reckoned
a prime sailer, and had just received a new coat of tallow on her
bottom, and might, in the opinion of the prisoners, be able to sail
the succeeding morning, we had little reason to expect that our ship,
which had been nearly two years in the water, could have any chance
to get up with her, if she were once allowed to escape from the port.
Wherefore, and as we were now discovered, and the whole coast would
soon be alarmed, and as our continuing to cruise any longer in
these parts would now answer no purpose, the commodore determined
to endeavour to take Payta by surprise, having in the first place
informed himself minutely of its strength and condition, by examining
the prisoners, and being fully satisfied that there was little danger
of losing many of our men in the attempt.

This attack on Payta, besides the treasure it promised, and its being
the only enterprise in our power to undertake, had also several other
probable advantages. We might, in all probability, supply ourselves
with great quantities of live provisions, of which we were in great
want; and we should also have an opportunity of setting our prisoners
on shore, who were now very numerous, and made a greater consumption
of our food than our remaining stock was capable of furnishing much
longer. In all these lights, the attempt was most eligible, and
to which our situation, our necessities, and every prudential
consideration, strongly prompted. How it succeeded, and how far it
answered our expectations, shall be the subject, of the succeeding
section.

SECTION XVI.

_Capture of Payta, and Proceedings at that Place._

The town of Payta is in lat 50 deg. 12' S. [long. 81 deg. 15' W.] being
situated in a most barren soil, composed only of sand and slate. It
is of small extent, being about 275 yards in length along the shore
of the bay, and 130 yards in breadth, containing less than two hundred
families. The houses are only ground floors, their walls composed of
split canes and mud