November. our mak in g any obfervation ; unfortunately, at the time o f
the greateil darknefs, a feaman, in flowing the main top-
maft ftay-fail, fell overboard, but layin g hold o f a rope,
which providentially was han ging out o f the fore-chains
into the water, and the fhip being qu ick ly brought- in the'
wind, he was got on board without any other hurt than a
flight bruife on his fhoulder. At eight, the weather clearing,
we bore away, but the wind blew ftill fo ftrong. that
we carried no other fail than the fore-fail, and the main
top-fail clofe reeft. About this time we faw a land bird re-
fembling a thrufli, and a fugar c a n e ; at noon, the latitude,
by obfervation, was s i 0 35', and longitude 12-10 35'.
As our flotation in longitude was now. to the Weft o f the
Baihee, accoiding to Mr. Dalrymple’s maps, I perceived
that Captain Gore was governed, in the courfe he was fteer-
ing, by the opinions o f Commodore Byron and Captain
Wallis, with whom he failed when they paired thefe iflands.'
T he former placing it near four degrees to the Weftward,
or in longitude 118“-14'. In- confequence o f this opinion, at
two, we flood to the- Southward, with a view - of- getting
into the fame parallel o f latitude with the iflands, before we
ran down our longitude. At fix, we were nearly in that
fituation, and confequently ought to have been in light o f
land, according to Mr., Wallis’s account, who places the
Baihees hear three degrees more, to the Eaftward than Mr.
Byron. The gale, at this, time, had not in the leaft abated ;
and Captain Gore., ftil-l conceiving that, the iflands mull u n doubtedly
lie to the Weftward, brought the. fhips to, with
their heads, to the North Weft, under the fore-fail, and bai-.
lanced mizen.
At
At fix in the morning.of. the.26th, the wind having eon- No^ 9b-er-
fiderably abated, w e bore away Weft; fet th e top-fails, and
let out the reefs. At noon, the latitude, by. obfervation,
was 21° 12', and longitude 120° 25'. We faw, this day, a flock,
o f ducks, , and many tropic birds, alio dolphins, and por-
p u f i e s , and ftill continued to. pafs feveral.pumice ftones.
We fpent the night upon our tacks,, and, at. fix in the
morning o f the 27th, again bore ;away Weft in fe a rch o f the Saturday, z^.
Baihees.
I now.began to be a little apprehenfive, left in fea rch ing
fo r thofe iflands, we ihould get fo much to the Southward as
to be obliged to pafs to leeward o f the Pratas, In this cafe,,
it might have been exceedingly difficult for fuch bad failing
fliips as ours to fetch Macao, particularly ihould the w in d
continue to blow, as it. now did,, from, the North North Eaft,
and North; As I had fome doubts whether Mr. Dalrymple’s
charts were on board, the Relolution, ,! made, fail and hailed;
h e r ; and having acquainted. Captain-. Gore with the pofition
o f thefe fhoals, and my apprehenfions o f being driven to the
Southward, he. informed me that he ihould continue on his
courfe. for the day, as he was ftill in hopes of. finding AdmL.
ral Byron’s longitude right.; and. therefore, ordered me. to.,
fpread a .few miles, to the,South-.
At noon, the weather became- ha zy ; the latitude, b y .
reckoning, was 21° 2', and longitude 1 18 30 ; and at fir,
having got to the Weftward o f the Baihees, by Mr. Byron's
account, Captain Gore hauled his wind to the North Weft, .
under an-eafy fail, the wind blowing very ftrong, and there
being every appearance.of-a dirty boifterous- night. At four
in the morning o f the 28th,- we faw-the Refolution,- then Smufayzg. .
h a lf a mile ahead o f us, wear, and immediately perceived
breakers.