e was N.E. by E. twenty-two leagues, and we were then in lat. 18 deg.
30' N. We this morning chased a Portuguese frigate, but she was so light
that we could not get near her. The 14th, at noon, we were in 19 deg. 35' N.
our course having been these twenty-four hours N.E. twenty-six leagues,
the current having carried us four leagues to the N. of our reckoning;
and yet this day at noon, in seventy-three f. on ooze, our boats found
no current at all. We here saw many ripplings, like the overfalls of
some rapid tide, yet found none. At six this evening, we again anchored
our boat in sixty-eight f. on oozy sand, and found a slight current to
the southwards. By the 15th, at noon, we had ran seventeen leagues N.E.
by N. and our latitude was 28 deg. 30' N. the current having carried us
seven leagues to the north of our reckoning. We had here forty-five f.
sandy ooze. The 16th, at noon, in 21 deg. 20' N. we had sight of three
islands, the eastermost N.N.W. the westermost N.W. and the nearest land
nine leagues off. We had here twenty-two f. on oosy sand, the wind being
E.S.E. and very fresh; but, from Cape Verelly till now, the wind had
always blown from S.S.E. to S.W. Next morning, at eight, we had
twenty-eight f. on ooze, having run, from noon of the 16th, eleven
leagues S.W. Finding the wind to increase, we thought it better to come
here to anchor than to run back again.
In the morning of the 18th June, the weather being somewhat fair, we
endeavoured to weigh our anchor; but when it was right apeak, the cable
gave way, though a new one, never before wetted, by which we lost our
anchor. Just at this time the Unicorn fired a gun, on which I sent
immediately to know what was amiss, and was informed she had sprung a
great leak, by which all her men were tired out with bailing. I then
sent thirty men to her aid, to ease her crew, till it might please God
they should find the leak. This day we had the wind at S.E. and stood E.
making our course N.E. till six p.m. when we again saw the former high
island ten leagues from us, bearing N.N.E. one-third E. This evening our
men returned from the Unicorn with the joyful news that the great leak
was firmly stopped. From six p.m. till midnight, we made fourteen
leagues N.E. when we had twenty f. in ooze. From that time, till five
next morning, we stood to the southwards, making a S.W. course three and
a half leagues.
From five in the morning of the 19th, we cast about towards the land,
w
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