1788. All our wilhes now are for a fpeedy and fafe voyage to St. Hc-
Maich. ^ j ena. an(j from thence to Old England, is added by tliine ever,
‘Off Java Head, 1 W . 130
March 27th. J
L E T T E R XLVIII.
OU R paffage during the month of March has been the moll
tedious, and by far the moft unhealthy of any we have experienced
during the voyage, and particularly in palling the Straights
o f Banca. The land, both on the Banca and Sumatra coaft, is
low, flat and marlhy; and as we in general had light winds, the
weather was extremely hot and fultry. A faint fickly heat feized
the greateft part of our people, indeed the ftrongeft on board felt
its influence more or lefs: we luckily had a good quantity of Peruvian
bark on board, which was regularly given to all the fickly
people, and its good effedts were foon perceptible ; we alfo had the
good fortune not to have the leaft appearance of the fcurvy
amongft us. -
Captain Portlock had loft two of his people with the flux fince
our leaving China, and feveral more were in a fickly ftate; however,
our getting out to fea raifed every one’s fpirits.
N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T OF AMERI C A . '
■ During the 28th of March we had a frelh breeze at North Weft,
with frequent fqualls attended with rain. At five o’clock in the afternoon
we faw a Arrange fail to the Northward. In the night,
and during the forenoon of the 29th, the breeze moderated; about
ten o’clock the Arrange fail being pretty near us, we found her to
be, the Queen Eaft-Indiaman, Captain Douglas. Our latitude at
noon was 10 deg. 17 min. South; and the longitude 255 deg. 8
min. Weft. During the afternoon, and the whole of the 30th,
we had light variable winds, frequently inclining to calm. At
eleven in the forenoon, Captain Portlock’s boat came on board us,
and Captain Dixon went on board the King George; the day was
dear and fine, but exceeding fultry, the thermometer being 89
deg. Latitude at noon 11 deg. 13 min.
337
1788.
March.
At fix o’clock in the evening Captain Dixon returned on board,
and informed us that it was determined for theveflelsto feparate, each
making the quickeft paffage in their power to St. Helena: on this
all our people held themfelves in readinefs to falute their fellow
voyagers with three cheers at parting, but light baffling winds prevented
the veffels from coming near enough for thatpurpofe.
During the 31ft we had a frelh breeze at South Eaft and Eaft
South Eaft, and our courfe was North Weft. In the forenoon of
the i ft of April we had entirely loft fight of our confort: our
latitude at noon was 12 deg. 44 min. South ; and the longitude
257 deg. 48 min Weft.
From the il l to the 9th we had a frelh Eafterly breeze, the
weather rather fqually at times, with rain. Our latitude at noon
on the 8th was 17 deg. 50 min. South ; and the longitude 271 deg.
16 min. Weft. Our courfe for fotne days paft had been Weft
U u South