i766. get a fkinful c>f liquor, and then fwim back to the fhip,
September.^ they hoped to have done before they were miffed.
Tuefiiay9. Ag j ^ad refolded to remit their punifhment, I did not;, too
feverely fem in ize their apology, -Which the reft o f the ihip’s
company, who flood round them, feemed very much to approve;
but, obferving that with a fkinful o f liquor they
would have been in a very unfit condition to fwim through
the furf to the fhip, I told them that hoping they would for
the future expofe their lives only upon more important
occafions, and that their condudt would thenceforward give
me no caufe o f complaint, I would for this time be fatisfied
with the fhame and regret which I perceived they fuffered
from a fenfe of their mifbehaviour: I then admonifhed them
to put on their clothes, and lie down, as I was confident they
wanted reft; and added, that as I might poffibly during the
courfe of the voyage have occafion for good fwimmers, I was
very glad that I knew to whom I might apply. Having thus
difmiffed thefe honeft fellows from their fears, I was infinitely
gratified by the murmur o f fatisfadtion which in-
ftantly ran through the fhip’s company; and was afterwards
amply rewarded for my lenity, there being no fer-
vice during all the toils and dangers o f the voyage which
they did not perform, with a zeal and alacrity that were
much to their honour and my advantage, as an example tO'
the reft.
Friday 12. We failed again on the 12th, and I was then firft acquainted
With the particulars o f our voyage by Captain Wallis, who
gave me a copy o f his inftrudtions, and appointed Port Famine
in the Streight of Magellan to be the place o f rendezvous,
i f we fhould happen to be feparated. I
I was now convinced that I had been fent upon a fervice
to which my veflel and her equipment were by no means
equal,
equal, but I determined at all events to perform it in the N^ 6ber
beft manner I was able. ' ' '
We proceeded on our voyage without any remarkable
event till we anchored off Cape Virgin Mary, where we faw
the Patagonians, of which 1 have given, fome account m a
letter to Dr. Matty, which was publifhed in the fixtieth volume
o f the Tranfaftions of the Royal Society, and which it
is not neceffary here to repeat, as it is m general the fame
as thofe which have been given by Commodore Byron and
Captain Wallis.
When we entered the Streight, I was ordered to keep
ahead o f the Dolphin and the ftoreftiip, to pilot them
through the fhoals ; but my fhip worked fo ill, that we
could but very feldom make her tack without the help o f a
boat to tow her round: however, with much labour, and at
no inconfiderable rifk, we anchored in Port Famine on Friday
the a6th o f December. At this place we unhung our rod- ^
der, and added a piece of wood to it, in hopes that by making
it broader, we fliould obtain fome advantage in working
the fh ip ; in which however we were altogether difappointed.
After many difficulties and dangers, we got into Bland ^ 7*7^
Bay on the 17 th of February ; and before we made fail again, Tuefda? ,f.
I reprefented the condition of my fhip by letter to Captain
Wallis, and requefted him to confider what was beft for his
Majefty’s fervice, whether fhe fliould be difmiffed, or continue
the voyage. Captain Wallis replied, that as the Lords
o f the Admiralty had ordered the Swallow on this fervice,
with the nature of which I was well acquainted, he did not
think himfelf at liberty to alter her deftination.
We