[Footnote 186:  The mouth of the river of Cullacan is in 24 deg. 45’ N. and the town of that name is about eighty-five or ninety statute miles up the river, supposed to have been an ancient seat of the Mexican nation, before their removal to the vale and lake of Mexico.—­E.]

[Footnote 187:  The Rio Rastla de Panuco, in 23 deg. 45’ N. is certainly here meant.—­E.]

On the 2d February 80 men were landed in the river Rosario.[188] We came to a pretty little town of the same name, a considerable way up that river, where we were assured by some prisoners that the gold-mines were not above two leagues from thence; but as we had present occasion for provisions, we carried about ninety bushels of maize on board from this place, without searching for the mines.  As this small supply was insufficient for our necessities, we resolved to return to the S.E. to the Rio San Jago,[189] where we anchored on the 11th.  This is one of the most considerable rivers on the west coast of New Spain.  The country having a good appearance, Captain Swan sent seventy men to look for a town.  After rowing up and down for two days, they landed in a corn field, and, while busy in gathering maize, they seized an Indian, who told them of a town called Santa Pecaque, four leagues farther.

[Footnote 188:  The mouth of this river is in lat. 28 deg.  N. about fifty miles S.E. from Cape Mazatlan, where Dampier seems to have been then at anchor among the Mazatlan isles.—­E.]

[Footnote 189:  So called by Dampier from the town of St Jago on its banks.  Its proper name is the Rio Grande, or river of Tololotlan.  The mouth of this river forms a large bay, in lat 21 deg. 30’ N. in which is the considerable island of St Blas.—­E.]

Returning to the ship with this intelligence, Captain Swan went with 140 men in eight canoes, and landed five leagues up the river, which was there about a pistol shot across with high banks.  He marched from thence through fertile plains and woods for three or four hours, and on approaching St Pecaque the Spaniards evacuated the place, so that we entered unopposed.  This town is situated in a spacious plain on the side of a wood, being neatly built, with a market-place in the middle, but not large, and has two churches.  There are silver-mines five or six leagues from this town, the ore from which is carried on mules to Compostella to be refined. Compostella, the capital of this part of Mexico, is twenty-one leagues from Pecaque, being inhabited by seventy families of Spaniards, and by five or six hundred mulattoes and Indians.  Finding great plenty of maize, sugar, salt, and salt fish at this place, Captain Swan divided his men into two parts, one of which kept possession of the place, while the other half were employed to carry these articles to the canoes, which was done turn and turn about, with the assistance of some horses.  We continued this work for two days; but on the 19th