Page 245
An.1685
The Ships that trade with Manila.
The Ships that Trade hither are only 3, two that constantly go once a year between this and Manila in Luconia, one of the Phillipine Islands, and one Ship more every year to and from Lima. This from Lima commonly arrives a little before Chrift- mas; she brings them Quick-filver, Cacao, and pieces of Eight. Here she stays till the Manila Ship arrives, and then takes in a Cargo of Spices, Silks, Callicoes, and Muzlins, and other Eaft In- dia Commodities for the use of Peru, and then returns to Lima. This is but a small Veffel of 20 Guns, but the 2 Manila Ships are each said to be above 1000 Tun. These make their Voy- ages alternately, so that one or other of them is al- ways at the Manillas. When either of them sets out from Acapulco, it is at the latter end of March, or the beginning of April ; she alwas touches to re- fresh at Guam, one of the Ladrone Islands, in about 60 days space after she sets out. There she stays but 2 or 3 days, and then prosecutes her Voyage to Manila, where she commonly arrives some time in June. By that time the other is ready to sail from thence, laden with Eaft India Commodities. She stretcheth away to the North as far as 36, or fometimes into 40 degrees of North lat. before she gets a wind to stand over to the American shore. She falls in first with the Coast of California, and then Coasts along the shore to the South again, and never misses of a wind to bring her away from thence quite to Acapulco. When she gets the length of Cape St. Lucas, which is the Southermoft point of California, she stretcheth over to Cape Corrientes, which is in about the 20th degree of North lat. from thence she Coasts along till she comes to Sal- lagua, and there she sets ashore Passengers, that are bound to the City of Mexico: From thence she makes her best way, coasting still along shore, till she arrives at Acapulco, which is commonly about Chris-