noon
The wind increased to a gale , but as it was from the northward , and bore us to our destination , it was welcomed . We soon crossed the Bay of Biscay , and were in more genial latitudes ; and , after a rapid run of about four weeks , I found myself nearly in the latitude given to us of the river where the Amy was at anchor . I then hauled in for the shore , which was very low , and required being approached with caution . We saw some towering palmtrees at sunset , and then we hove to ; the next day we again stood in , and having ascertained our exact latitude at noon , we found ourselves about four miles to the northward of the river 's mouth . We shaped a course , and in two hours I made out the marks given for our guidance in the rough sketch of Captain Irving , and thus satisfied that I was right , ran directly for the mouth of the river . Captain Irving was correct in saying it was difficult , for it was not until we were within a mile that we could find any opening ; but at last we did , and at the same time perceived the mast of two vessels at some distance up the river . We stood in , and found that there was no bar at the river mouth , which was a very unusual circumstance on this coast .