ld only assist them by a teaspoonful or
two of wine which I had carefully saved, expecting such a melancholy
necessity.

Monday 8.

Wind at south-east. The weather was more moderate than it had been for
some days past. A few gannets were seen. At noon I observed in 8 degrees
45 minutes south; course west-north-west one quarter west, 106 miles;
longitude made 8 degrees 23 minutes west. The sea being smooth I steered
west by south.

At four in the afternoon we caught a small dolphin, which was the first
relief of the kind that we obtained. I issued about two ounces to each
person, including the offals, and saved the remainder for dinner the next
day. Towards evening the wind freshened and it blew strong all night, so
that we shipped much water and suffered greatly from the wet and cold.

Tuesday 9.

At daylight as usual I heard much complaining, which my own feelings
convinced me was too well founded. I gave the surgeon the Lebogue a
little wine but I could afford them no farther relief except encouraging
them with hopes that a very few days longer, at our present fine rate of
sailing, would bring us to Timor.

Gannets, boobies, men of war and tropic birds, were constantly about us.
Served the usual allowance of bread and water and at noon we dined on the
remains of the dolphin, which amounted to about an ounce per man. I
observed the latitude to be 9 degrees 9 minutes south; longitude made 10
degrees 8 minutes west; course since yesterday noon south 76 degrees
west; distance 107 miles.

This afternoon I suffered great sickness from the nature of part of the
stomach of the fish which had fallen to my share at dinner. At sunset
served an allowance of bread and water for supper.

Wednesday 10.

In the morning after a very comfortless night there was a visible
alteration for the worse in many of the people which gave me great
apprehensions. An extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow and ghastly
countenances, a more than common inclination to sleep, with an apparent
debility of understanding, seemed to me the melancholy presages of an
approaching dissolution. The surgeon and Lebogue, in particular, were
most miserable objects. I occasionally gave them a few teaspoonfuls of
wine out of the little that remained, which greatly assisted them. The
hopes of being able to accomplish the voyage was our principal support.
The boatswain very innocently told me that he really thought I looked
worse than anyone in the boat. Th