( so I
wind had risen to that piteh, tha t I looked for nothing else than
having all the canvas (small and low as it was) blown out .of the
bolt-rope when exposed to . the winds as the vessel got Ohrthd
top of a sea. She behaved much-better than .could* have,! been
expected, as she rose on the top of ; every thing* and- shipped
very little water, during the day. A few leaks-broke out on the
deck, one of which, over my bed, was a little troublesome, till
the weather permitted its being secured*. • Several. rainbows
made their appearance, this day. The mercury, which :wa§
07° 30' when the- Vessel was hove to, rose towards the^vei^ng
to 69°. At «fa* P. M. a very
on* with an increased, degree of wind, which for a littlpfiseemed
today the weight of the sea. We heard thte squall b e f t e we
felt it, and after it left us, which was not of long duration. A
large rainbow was seen, which joined to the ddrkness p f thé
night had a very disagreeable appearance. This waS’the[g§c8nd
lunar rainbow I had ever seen; the first was whilst-erpjdng in
the Gulph of Lyons in very heavy weather, which, however* I
brought with it a favourable change,- as it also did on the pre*
sent occasion.
In the morning of the 12th the weather moderated, the wind
gradually abating. I t hauled round to the S.S. E. Wë had
still strong gales, with some rain, and much sea: but by this
time we had got so accustomed to the little vessel and the
rough weather, that all became familiar to ms; I t is but justice
to my crew to observe that, though young and inexperienced
lads, they had become so alert and attentive to their duty in
reducing or making sail in such fluctuating weather, as to demand
my highest praise.- I had seldom occasion to call all
hands upon deck for this purpose. At noon this day we had
moderate weather, the wind from S. to S.S. E. The mercury,
which
which during the night had been at 69° 30', now got up to 71°-
f ordered all the bedding and clothes oh deck to dry.
OnNthe lSthy.we had a light breeze from N. N. E. which we
made the best usm/of to get southing. Took the opportunity
of stopping the leaks through the deck, and examining our rigging,
'which was" found not to be in th e smallest degree chafed
by-the. gal#. *-' Our latitude at noon was 27° 34' S. longitude
a b ° '^ i'W .
Th#$wind shifted on the 14th to the W. and in an heavy
squall iat twelve. P> M. it came round to the old quarter, blowing
heavy and steady from S; S. W.
Ahtday-break on the 15th it moderated and shifted to the
S. E. by S. This variable weather was what we had no reason
to expect in this latitude a t this season of the year. As N-. W.
winds are generally experienced, directions are given to get to
the southward, but: hanging so long to the Sv and blowing in so
great d d egree, together with the? force o f the sea, our progress
was much impeded.
On the 16th it fell for a short time calm; but N. W. breeze
springing up, we carried all- possible sail, it being the wind we
had long.looked for.
The breeze failed us on the 17th, shifting again to the S. W.
accompanied with rain and squaltfe One of the men struck a
pilot fish, (Gastereotus Ductor. Lin.) being one of two which had
followed the vessel some time. I t measured seven inches in
length ; and in its maw was found a small fish resembling our
common sand eel.
On the 18th we had a. very heavy sea, with, the wind -as yesterday.
By observation, at noon we were in lat. 31° 13' S.
long, per account, 11° 48' W. We were often-obliged this day
to throw the vessel before the sea, as it followed us, and rose
more perpendicular than I had observed before. About five
P .M .