intended for purchasing a
cargo of provisions at Cheripe.

I cannot but observe, for the use of future cruisers, that had we been
in want of provisions, we had by this capture an obvious method of
supplying ourselves. For at Cheripe, whither she was bound, there is a
constant store of provisions prepared for the vessels which go thither
every week from Panama, the market of Panama being chiefly supplied
from thence: So that by putting a few of our hands on board our prize,
we might easily have seized a large store without any hazard, since
Cheripe is a place of no strength.

On the 12th of December we were relieved from the perplexity we had
suffered, by the separation of the Gloucester; for on that day she
joined us, and informed us, that in tacking to the southward on our
first arrival, she had sprung her fore-top-mast, which had disabled
her from working to windward, and prevented her from joining us
sooner. We now scuttled and sunk the Jesu Nazareno, the prize we took
last, and having the greatest impatience to get into a proper station
for the galleon, stood altogether to the westward, and notwithstanding
the impediments we met with, left the island of Quibo in about nine
days after our first coming in sight of it.

SECTION XIX.

_From Quibo to the Coast of Mexico._

On the 12th of December we left Quibo, and the same day the commodore
delivered fresh instructions to the captains of the men of war, and
the commanders of our prizes, appointing them the rendezvouses
they were to make, and the courses they were to steer in case of a
separation. And first, they were directed to use all possible dispatch
in getting to the northward of the harbour of Acapulco, where they
were to endeavour to fall in with the land, between the latitudes of
18 and 19 deg.; from thence, they were to beat up the coast at eight or
ten leagues distance from the shore, till they came a-breast of Cape
Corientes, in the latitude of 20 deg.20'. When they arrived there, they
were to continue cruising on that station till the 14th of February;
and then they were to proceed to the middle island of the Tres Marias,
in the latitude of 21 deg.25', bearing from Cape Corientes N.W. by N.,
twenty-five leagues distant. And if at this island they did not meet
the commodore, they were there to recruit their wood and water, and
then to make the best of their way to the island of Macao, on the
coast of China. These orders being distributed, we had li