We had no fooner got clear of Port Pray a, than we'got a j|R&
frefh gale at N. N. E.; which blew in fqualls, attended with
fhowers of rain. But the next day the wind and fhowers
abated, and veered to the South. It was, however, variable
and unfettled for feveral days, accompanied with dark
gloomy weather, and fhowers of rain.
On the 19th, in the afternoon, one of the carpenter’s- w«dncf- 19-
mates fell over board, and was drowned. He was over the
fide, fitting in one of the fcuttles; from whence, it was fup-
pofed, he had fallen: for he was not feen till the very in-
ftant he funk under the fhip’s ftern, when our endeavours
to fave him were too late. This lofs was fenfibly felt during
the voyage, as he was a fober man and a good workman.
About noon the next day, the rain poured down Tburfday ioi
upon us not in drops, but in ftreams. The wind, at the
fame time, was variable, and fqually; which obliged the
people to attend the decks, fo that few in the ihips efcaped
a good foaking. We, however, benefited by it, as it gave
us an opportunity of filling all our empty water calks. This
heavy rain at laft brought on a dead calm, which continued
twenty-four hours, when it was fucceeded by a breeze from
S. W. Betwixt this point and South, it continued for feveral
days ; and blew, at times, in fqualls, attended with rain
and hot fultry weather. The mercury in the thermometers
at noon, kept generally from 79 to 82.
On the 27th, fpake with Captain Furneaux, who in- Thar(aa
formed us that one of his petty officers was dead. At this
time we had not one fick on board ; although we had every
thing of this kind to fear from the rain we had had, which is
a great promoter of ficknefs in hot climates. To prevent this,
and agreeable to fome hints I had from Sir Hugh Pallifer,
Vol. I. C and