Some five or sixe leagues to the north-wards of Puma, is la Punta de
Santa Elena; under which is good anchoring, cleane ground, and
reasonable succour. Being thwart of this point, wee had sight of a
shippe, which wee chased; but being of better saile then we, and the
night comming on, we lost sight of her, and so anchored under the Isla
de Plata, to recover our pinnace and boate, which had gone about the
other point of the iland, which lyeth in two degrees and fortie minutes.
[Puerto Viejo.]
The next day we past in sight of Puerto Viejo, in two degrees and ten
minutes; which lying without shipping, wee directed our course for Cape
Passaos.[206] It lyeth directly under the equinoctiall lyne; some
fourescore leagues to the west-wards of this cape, lyeth a heape of
ilands, the Spaniards call Illas de Los Galapagos: they are desert and
bear no fruite. From Cape Passaos, wee directed our course to Cape Saint
Francisco, which lyeth in one degree to the north-wardes of the lyne;
and being thwart of it, wee descried a small shippe, which wee chased
all that day and night; and the next morning our pinnace came to bourd
her; but being a shippe of advise, and full of passengers, and our ship
not able to fetch her up, they entreated our people badly, and freed
themselves; though the feare they conceived, caused them to cast all the
dispatches of the king, as also of particulars, into the sea, with a
great part of their loading, to bee lighter and better of sayle; for the
shippes of the South sea loade themselves like lighters, or sand barges,
presuming upon the securitie from stormes.