tood for the river of Canton, and on the 30th of June,
at six in the evening, got sight of Cape Delangano, which then bore west
ten leagues distant, and the next day he made the Bashee Islands, and the
wind being so far to the northward that it was difficult to weather them,
it was resolved to stand through between Grafton and Monmouth Islands,
where the passage seemed to be clear; but in getting through the sea had
a very dangerous aspect, for it rippled and foamed as if it had been full
of breakers, which was still more terrible as it was then night. But the
ships got through very safe, the prize always keeping ahead, and it was
found that the appearance which had alarmed them had been occasioned only
by a strong tide, and on the 11th of July, having taken on board two
Chinese pilots, one for the Centurion and the other for the prize, they
came to an anchor off the city of Macao.

By this time the particulars of the cargo of the galleon were well
ascertained, and it was found that she had on board 1,313,843 pieces of
eight and 35,682 ounces of virgin silver, besides some cochineal and a
few other commodities, which, however, were but of small account in
comparison of the specie. And this being the Commodore's last prize, it
hence appears that all the treasure taken by the Centurion was not much
short of 400,000 pounds independent of the ships and merchandise which
she either burnt or destroyed, and which by the most reasonable
estimation could not amount to so little as 600,000 more; so that the
whole loss of the enemy by our squadron did doubtless exceed a million
sterling. To which, if there be added the great expense of the court of
Spain in fitting out Pizarro, and in paying the additional charges in
America incurred on our account, together with the loss of their
men-of-war, the total of all these articles will be a most exorbitant
sum, and is the strongest conviction of the utility of this expedition,
which, with all its numerous disadvantages, did yet prove so extremely
prejudicial to the enemy.

CHAPTER 36.
THE CANTON RIVER--NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE--PRISONERS RELEASED.

The Commodore, having taken pilots on board, proceeded with his prize for
the river of Canton, and on the 14th of July came to an anchor short of
the Bocca Tigris, which is a narrow passage forming the mouth of that
river. This entrance he proposed to stand through the next day, and to
run up as far as Tiger Island, which is a very saf