Page 238
An.1685
The Isle Sacrificio.
Pecaque Town in the River of St. Jago. Of Compostella. Many of them cut off at Sancta Pecaque. Of California; whether an Island, or not: and of the North West and North East Passage. A Method proposed for Disco- very of the North West and North East Pas- sages. Isle of Santa Maria. A prickly Plant. Captain Swan proposes a Voyage to the East In- dies. Valley of Balderas again, and Cape Corrientes. The reason of their ill Success on the Mexican Coast, and Departure thence for the East Indies.
IT was the 12th of October 1685, when we set out of the Harbour of Guatulco with our Ships. The Land here lies along West, and a little South- erly for about 20 or 30 leagues, and the Sea Winds are commonly at W. S. W. sometimes at S. W. the Land Winds at N. We had now fair weather, and but little Wind. We coasted along to the West- ward, keeping as near the shore as we could for the benefit of the Land Winds, for the Sea Winds were right against us; and we found a current setting to the Eastward which kept us back, and obliged us to anchor at the Island Sacrificio, which is a small green Island about half a mile long. It lieth about a league to the West of Guatulco, and about half a mile from the Main. There seems to be a fine Bay to the West of the Island; but it is full of Rocks. The best riding is between the Island and the Main: there you will have 5 or 6 fathom Water. Here runs a pretty strong tide; the Sea riseth and falleth 5 or 6 foot up and down.
The 18th day we sailed from hence, coasting to the Westward after our Canoas. We kept near the shore, which was all sandy Bays; the Country pretty