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180 as the point where the projected canal or railroad from the Nicaragua should communicate with the Pacific.

After passing Cape Desolada, we began to experience the gusts from the lake of Managua, no high land intervening in its course; and shortly the gale increased sufficiently to split a few of our sails, and reduce us to treble reefed topsails, courses, and trysails; even this small canvass pressing her much.

One whole day we remained at anchor, the squalls being too powerful to work in, and the necessary expenditure for so doing not being warranted by any equivalent. On the 3rd, by dint of perseverance, Ave reached the head of the gulf or bay of Salinas, (Bolanos of Bauza,) but had not observed anything like a river or port. Indeed, this term cannot be relied on throughout this coast. Wherever a boat embarks cargo, the term port is applied.

Having determined the position of Salinas Island in the centre of the bay, I left an officer (Mr. Speck) in the Victoria, to make a survey of the bay of Salinas, and proceeded with the ship to search for port Culebra, leaving orders for Mr. Speck to rejoin me at that rendezvous.

On rounding the point in view corresponding to Point Catalina of Bauza, we discovered a cluster of eight islands. These I determined to examine, as they did not appear on the chart. They almost formed two distinct harbours, the smaller islands forming a crescent by the south, one large island