s 42 deg. 34' south. In the afternoon of the 17th, we had a
strong appearance of a current, and passed a large number of
whales. The next day, the water being discoloured, we sounded
with 160 fathoms of line, but got no ground. The wind still kept
to the northward, with moderate breezes and fine weather.

Essence of malt and vinegar were served to the ship's company
on the 24th, and every precaution was taken to preserve their
health. In the evening, we had much lightning to the northward:
the wind blew fresh from the north-east, and we had frequent
heavy squalls attended with rain. Towards noon on the 26th, the
wind grew light and variable: the latitude was 32 deg. 20' south,
and the longitude 311 deg. 02' east. In the evening, we had much
lightning to the northward: towards midnight, a fresh breeze
sprung up from the south-east.

The next forenoon, we saw a turtle and several flying-fish;
and at six o'clock in the afternoon, we saw a brig to the
northward, and soon afterwards spoke with her. At six o'clock in
the morning of the 28th, we saw the land bearing from north-west
to west-south-west. We sounded in 26 fathoms of water, over a
bottom of soft mud. At eight o'clock, some high level land bore
west half south, eight or nine leagues distant. I ordered the
jolly-boat to be hoisted out, and we tried the current, which was
found to set north-east by north, at the rate of half a mile an
hour, or nearly. At noon, we had clear soundings in 24, 22, 20,
and 18 fathoms over a bottom of fine brown sand and mud. At six
o'clock, we tacked, the extremes of the land bearing from
south-west to north by east; the nearest land about four miles
distant. During the night, we had regular soundings from 13 to 25
fathoms.

The next morning, we tacked and stood towards the land, with
light variable winds. At noon, the extremes of the land were from
north to south 50 deg. west; the nearest land about ten miles
distant. In the afternoon, we saw a large turtle; and at three
o'clock, we sounded in 19 fathoms, over a muddy bottom. At six
o'clock, the nearest land bore north by west half west, about
three leagues distant. During the night, we had a light breeze
from the westward: we frequently sounded, and had from 17 to 23
fathoms water.

At noon on the 30th, the nearest land bore north 75 deg. west,
eight or nine miles distant. We stood along shore, with a light
breeze at south-south-east; and at sun-set, the land bore from
north 32 d