ld cost us above
a month or six weeks, so that, in our opinion, we had nearly twice as
much time as was necessary.

There was one business, however, which we knew must occasion some
delay, but which we hoped might be accomplished in four or five days.
This was to recruit our water; for the number of prisoners we had to
maintain, ever since we left Juan Fernandez, had so far exhausted our
stock, that it was impossible to think of venturing upon a passage to
the coast of Mexico, till we had procured a fresh supply; especially
as we had not found enough at Payta for our consumption while there.
It was for some time a matter of deliberation with the commodore,
where we might take in this necessary article; but, by consulting the
accounts of former navigators, and examining our prisoners, he at last
resolved for the island of Quibo, beyond the bay of Panama. There was
indeed a small island called _Cocos_, less out of our way than Quibo,
where some of the Buccaneers pretended to have found water: But none
of our prisoners knew any thing of that island, and it was thought too
hazardous to risk the safety of the squadron, by exposing ourselves to
the chance of not finding water at that place, on the mere authority
of these legendary writers, of whose misrepresentations and falsities
we had almost daily experience. Besides, we were not without hopes
that in going to Quibo some of the enemies ships bound to or from
Panama might fall into our hands, particularly such of them as were
put to sea, before they had intelligence of our squadron; we therefore
directed our course to the northward, being eight sail, and so
having the appearance of a very formidable fleet; and on the 19th
at day-break, we discovered Cape Blanco, bearing S.S.E. 1/2 E. seven
miles distant. This cape lies in the latitude of 4 deg. 15' south, and is
always made by ships bound either to windward or to leeward, so that
it is a most excellent station to cruise upon the enemy. As our last
prize, the Solidad, was far from answering the character given her of
a good sailer, and she and the Santa Teresa delayed us considerably,
the commodore ordered them to be cleared of every thing that might
prove useful to the rest of the ships, and then to be burnt. We then
proceeded in our course for Quibo, and, on the 22d in the morning,
saw the island of Plata bearing east, distant four leagues. One of our
prizes, which was ordered to stand close in, both to discover if there