Page 281
An.1686
The Course from Cape Corrientes to Guam.
Captain Swan s Ship, and a Bark commanded un- der Captain Swan, by Captain Teat, and we were 150 men, 100 aboard of the Ship, and 50 aboard the Bark, beside slaves, as I said.
We had a small Land-wind at E. N. E. which carried us 3 or 4 leagues, then the Sea-wind came at W. N. W. a fresh gale, so we steered away S. W. By 6 a clock in the evening we were about 9 leagues S. W. from the Cape, then we met a Land-wind which blew fresh all night, and the next morning about 10 a clock we had the Sea breez at N. N. E. so that at noon we were 20 leagues from the Cape. It blew a fresh gale of Wind, which carried us off into the true Trade-wind, (of the difference of which Trade-winds I shall speak in the Chapter of Winds, in the Appendix) for although the con- stant Sea breez near the shore is at W. N. W. yet the true Trade off at Sea, when you are clear of the Land-winds, is at E. N. E. At first we had it at N. N. E. so it came about Northerly, and then to the East as we run off. At 250 leagues distance from the shore we had it at E. N. E. and there it stood till we came within 40 leagues of Guam. When we had eaten up our 3 meals of salted Few- fish in so many days time, we had nothing but our small allowance of Maiz.
After the first day of March we made great runs every day, having very fair clear weather, and a fresh Trade-wind, which we made use of with all our Sails, and we made many good Observations of the Sun. At our first setting out, we steer'd into the lat. of 13 degrees, which is near the lat. of Guam ; then we steered West keeping in that lat. By that time we had failed 20 days, our men see- ing we made such great runs, and the Wind like to continue, repined because they were kept at such short allowance. Captain Swan endeavoured to perswade them to have a little patience ; yet nothing