»778. now fucceeded in getting to the windward December. . o f the iiland,
v— w— , which we had aimed at with fp much perfeverance.
T h e Difcovery, however, was not y e t to be feen. But
the wind, as we had it, being very favourable for h e r to
follow us, I concluded, that it would not be long before ihe
joined us. I therefore kept c ru iz in g o ff this South Eaft
point o f the iiland, which lies in the latitude o f 19° 34',
and in the longitude o f 303° 6', till I was fatisfied that Captain
Clerke could not join me here, I now conjetftured, that
he had not been able to weather the North Eaft part o f the
iiland, and had gone to leeward in order to meet me that
way.
As I generally kept from five to ten leagues from the land,
Monday 28. no canoes, except one, came o ff to us till the 28th; when
w e were vifited by a dozen ny — T h e pcuphr~who
condu&ed'-rfremj brought, as ufual, the produce o f the
iiland. I was very forry that they had taken the trouble to
come fo far. For we could not trade with them, our old
ftock not being, as yet, confumed ; and we had found, by
late experience, that the hogs could not be kept alive, nor
the roots preferved from putrefailion, many days. .However,
I intended not to leave this part o f the iiland before I
got a fu p p ly ; as it would not be eafy to return to it again,
in cafe it ihould be found neceilary.
wednef. 3o. We began to be in want on the 30th; and I would have
flood in near the ihore, but was prevented by a c a lm ; but a
breeze fpringing up, at midnight, from South and South
Weft, we were enabled to Hand in for the land at day-break.
Thurfday3i . At ten o’clock in the morning, we were met by the illand-
ers with fruit and roots j but, in all the canoes, were only
7 three
three fmall pigs. Our not having bought thofe which had >778.
been lately brought off, may be fuppofed to be the reafon o f .Decemfe.
thrs very foamy fupply. We brought to, for the purpofes o f
trade; but, foon after, our marketing was interrupted by a
ery hard r a in ; and, befidCs, we were rather too far from
the fliore. Nor durft I g0 nearer; for I could not depend
th T f C ,e 7r'at 3 rel? ainin£ where “ was for a moment;
the fwell alfo being, high, and fetting obliquely upon the
ihore, againft. which it broke in a frightfu l furf. In the
evening the weather mended; the night was clear, and it
was ipent in makin g ihort boards-
Before day-break,. the atmofphere was again loaded with .779.-
heavy clouds; and the new year was uihered in w ith very Friday^
hard rain, w h ich continued, at intervals, till paft ten o’clock
T he wind-was S om b e r ly , a ligh t breeze, with fom e ca lm s '
When the rain ceafed the ik y cleared, and the b f c ^ f r e f t .
ened. Being, at this time, about five miles from the land
feveral canoes arrived with fruit and roots; and at laft'
fome hogs were brought o f f We la y to, trading with them-
till three o’clock in the afternoon ; when, having a tolerable
fupply, we made fail, with a view o f proceeding to the
North Weft, or lee-fide o f the iiland, to look for the Difcovery.
it was neceilary, however, the wind being at South
to ftretch firft to the EaftWard, till midnight, when- th e
wind came more favourable, and we went upon the other-
tack. For feveral days paft, both wind and weather had*
been exceedingly unfettled ; and there fell a great deal o f
rain.
The 'hree following days were fpent in ru n n in g down B j L :
the South Eaft fide o f the iiland. For, during the nights we Sun<%3> *
flood o ff and on 3 and part o f each day, was employed in ly in g - Mottday