Page 100
An. 1684
Isles of the Gallapagos.
The 19th day in the evening we sailed from the Island Lobos, with Captain Eaton in our Company. We carried the 3 Flower Prizes with us, but our first Prize laden with Timber, we left here at an Anchor; the Wind was at S. by E. which is the common Trade-Wind here, and we steered away N. W. by N. intending to run into the latitude of the Isles Gallapagos, and steer off Weft, because we did not know the certain distance, and therefore could not shape a direct course to them. When we came within 40 minutes of the Equator, we steer- ed West, having the Wind at South, a very mode- rate gentle Gale. It was the 31st day of May when we first had sight of the Islands Gallapagos: Some of them appeared on our Weather-bow, some on our Lee-bow, others right a head. We at first sight trimm'd our Sails, and steered as nigh the Wind as we could, striving to get to the Southermost of them, but our Prizes being deep laden, their Sails but small and thin, and a very small Gale, they could not keep up with us; therefore we likewise edged away again, a point from the Wind, to keep near them; and in the evening the Ship that I was in, and Captain Eaton, Anchored on the East side of one of the Eastermost Islands, a mile from the shore, in 16 fathom Water, clean, white, hard Sand,
The Gallapagos Islands are a great number of un- inhabited Islands, lying under, and on both sides of the Equator. The Eastermost of them are about 110 leagues from the Main. They are laid down in the longitude of 181, reaching to the Westward as far as 176; therefore their longitude from England Westward is about 68 degrees. But I believe our Hy- drographers do not place them far enough to the West- ward. The Spaniards who first discovered them, and in whose drafts alone they are laid down, re- port them to be a great number, stretching North- West