whether or no it did not fet us to the Eaftward at the fame time ;
however, Captain Dixon determined at all events to Hand to the
Northward, the wind blowing frefh at North Weft. This afternoon
our powder was-found to be loofe and (damaged, on whieh
four barrels were thrown overboard, referving only as much as we
might poftibly want for fignals or other temporary purpofes.
* Erom this till noon on the 20th, we had very little alteration;
the wind ftill blew frefh at North Weft with frequent fqualls;
our latitude was 36 deg. 57 min. South. As we had made nearly
a North courfe for the laft twenty-four hours, this -obfervation
■ confirmed our opinion of a Southerly current, but whether to the
Eaftward or Weftward, it was not eafy to determine, though we
had fome reafon to think it fet about South South Eaft. In the
afternoon, the wind fhifted to the Weftward, and during the night
it changed to South and'South Eaft, but grew light as it came
from the Southward.
•
Early in the morning o f the 21ft, we had a frefh breeze at Eaft
North Eaft, on which we fet all the fail we could, being glad
to embrace every opportunity of getting to the Northward and
Weftward. Our latitude at noon was 36 deg. 40 min. and
the longitude 337 deg. 20 min. Weft. In the afternoon the
breeze frefhened, and the wind hauled to the Northward towards
evening, blowing very hard with frequent heavy fqualls, which
caufed us to hand the topfails and reef the courfes.---- Towards
morning on the 22d, the weather grew more moderate, and at
day-light we made fail, ftill Handing to . the Northward, the
weather hazy with rain; our latitude at noon was 36 deg. South.
The forenoon of the 23d was very fqually, attended with rain;
bn which ■ we clofe-reefed the topfails, and ftruck top-gallant
a mafts;
mafts: about.ten o’clock.we. were taken with a moft violent fquall,
but as we, had-timely taken in fail, it fortunately did us no other
damage than fplitting our fore ftay-feil. Qur obfervation at noon
gave 35 deg. 48 min, South- latitude.
In the afternoon the weather grew more fettled, the wind ftill
hanging to- the. North; Weft. Our pump-well ftill.required clofe
attendance, a good quantity of fand conftantly working into it.
At three o’clock in the morning of the 24th, we founded with fe-
venty fathom line over a.loft bottom, which fhewed that we were
on the banks of Lagullus., on which.we wore fhip, the, wind light
and variable. At day-light, the weather being pretty moderate, we
made fail ; at feven o’clock we fawa large fhip bearing North Eaft,
and Handing to the. Northward. Our latitude at noon was . 3 5
deg. 36. min. South.
I fhould ohferve that ever fiftce the. bad weather came on, the
wind had been generally' at. North Weft, ;and that.whenever it
fhifted to the Southward or Eaftward, it grew light and very
variable. This had occafioned us to wear as often as was judged
confiftent with our getting to the Weftward, and -it is probable
that the current -already mentioned, had in fome meafure. retarded
our progrefs..
During the afternoon and night we liad ftrong:North Wefterly
breezes and fqually: weather, which - kept us under an eafy fail,
and we. made occafional boards as fuited. o.ur coriyeniency.
At day-light in the morning of the 25th, the weather being,
moderate, w-e.made fail, the wind ftill. hanging at North Weft..
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