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156 the coast. After running twenty-four miles without meeting with any indentation to justify the title of port, I rounded to, and anchored off the west point of a bay, which probably may be the Morro Ayuca of Bauza, but it differs much in position.

Landing at the time of anchoring was impracticable, but I succeeded on the following day in obtaining complete observations on a rock off the point, by which this remarkable angle of the coast is well secured; the sea giving me notice to quit, at the instant I had completed, by nearly washing away our instruments.

At sunset. Lieutenant Collinson returned, having succeeded in finding Guatulco, and secured its position. It was, however, too small for the ship.

My detention at this point afforded me very satisfactory data respecting the partial set and direction of the currents. During the first twenty-four hours the current set strong, one and a half to two knots to the eastward. On the day following, having again anchored in a calm, it was found to set westerly, but not with so much velocity. Our dead reckoning varied considerably in every direction, but an easterly set prevailed.

From Morro Ayuca I shaped a direct course across the Gulf of Tehuantepec, expecting to experience some of the gusts which are assigned to that region. In this we were entirely disappointed, although a fresh breeze favoured us for a short period. On approaching the eastern shore, near the