caulk the decks and sides of the Centurion, to prevent
the rain-water from running into her.

On the 3d of December we had a view of the island of Quibo, the
east end then bearing N.N.W. four leagues distant, and the island of
Quicara W.N.W. at about the same distance. Here we struck ground with
sixty-five fathom of line, and found the bottom to consist of grey
sand, with black specks. When we got sight of the land, we found the
wind to hang westerly, and therefore thought it adviseable to stand
off till morning, as there are said to be some shoals in the entrance
of the channel. At six the next morning, point Mariato bore N.E. 1/2
N. three or four leagues distant. In weathering this point, all the
squadron, except the Centurion, were very near it, and the Gloucester,
being the leewardmost ship, was forced to tack and stand to the
southward, so that we lost sight of her. At nine, the island Sebaco
bore N.W. by N. four leagues distant; but the wind still proving
unfavourable, we were obliged to ply on and off for the succeeding
twenty-four hours, and were frequently taken a-back. However, at
eleven the next morning the wind happily settling in the S.S.W. we
bore away for the S.S.E. end of the island, and about three in the
afternoon entered Canal Bueno, passing round a shoal which stretches
off about two miles from the south point of the island. This Canal
Bueno, or Good Channel, is at least six miles in breadth; and as we
had the wind large, we kept in a good depth of water, generally from
twenty-eight to thirty-three fathom, and came not within a mile and a
half distance of the breakers, though, in all probability, if it had
been necessary, we might have ventured much nearer without incurring
the least danger. At seven in the evening we came to an anchor in
thirty-three fathom, muddy ground; the south point of the island
bearing S.E. by E. a remarkable high part of the island W. by N. and
the island Sebaco E. by N.

SECTION XVIII.

_Our Proceedings at Quibo, with an Account of the Place._

The morning after our coming to an anchor, an officer was dispatched
to discover the watering-place; and, having found it, returned before
noon; then we sent the long-boat for a load of water, and at the same
time weighed and stood farther in with our ships. At two we came
again to an anchor in twenty-two fathom, with a bottom of rough gravel
intermixed with broken shells, the watering-place now bearing from us
N.W. 1/2 N. o