I ferved to every person a tea-fpoonful of rum, our limbs. being fo cramped that we could fcarce move them. Our fituation was now extremely dangerous, the sea frequently running over our stern, which kept us baling with all our strength. In the evening it rained hard, and we again experienced a dreadful night. TUESDAY, MAY 12. At length the day came, and fhewed to me a miferable set of beings, full of wants, without any thing to relieve them. Some complained of great pain in the bowels, and every one of having almost loft the entire use of his limbs. The little fleep we got was no ways refreshing, as we were covered with fea and rain. I ferved a spoonful of rum at day-dawn, and measured out the 25th of a pound of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, as yesterday. The wet weather continued, and in the afternoon the wind came from the fouthward, blowing fresh in fqualls. As there was no profpect of getting our clothes dried, I recommended to every one to ftrip, and wring them through the falt water, by which means they received a warmth which, when wet with rain, they had not. WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13. I thought it prudent to keep back the allowance of rum at day-break. All this day, we were conftantly fhipping water, and baling, and fuffered much cold and shiverings in the night. THURSDAY, MAY 14. Fresh gales at SE. and gloomy weather, with rain, and a high fea. At fix in the morning we saw land, which soon appeared to be four islands, one of them larger than the others, and all of them high and remarkable in appearance *. FRIDAY, MAY 15. At one in the morning another ifland was discovered. A number of grunnets, boobies, and men of war birds were feen. These islands lie between the latitude 13° 16' and 14° 10 S.; their longitude, according to my reckoning, 15° 51' to 17o 6′ W. from the island Tofoa; that is 167° 17′ E. to 168° 34′E. from Greenwich. The largest island I judged to be about twenty leagues in circuit, the others five or fix. The easternmost is the smallest island, and most remarkable, having a high fugar-loaf hill. They are fertile, and inhabited, as I saw smoke in several places. The fight of these islands ferved only to increase the mifery of our fituation. We were very little better than starving, with plenty in view; yet to attempt pro VOL. II. *Thefe were new difcoveries, curing curing any relief was attended with fo much danger, that prolonging of life, even in the midst of mifery, was thought preferable, while there remained hopes of being able to furmount our hardships. The wind was at SE. with rainy weather all day. The night was very dark, not a star could be feen to fteer by, and the fea broke continually over us. SATURDAY, MAY 16. In addition to our miserable allowance of one 25th of a pound of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, I issued for dinner about an ounce of salt pork to each perfon. I was often folicited for this pork, but I confidered it more proper to iffue it in fmall quantities, than to fuffer it to be all used at once or twice, which would have been done if I had allowed it. The fun breaking through the clouds, gave us hopes of drying our wet clothes; but the sunshine was of short duration. We had strong breezes at SE. by S. and dark gloomy weather, with storms of thunder, lightning, and rain. The night was truly horrible, and not a ftar to be feen; fo that our fteerage was uncertain. SUNDAY, MAY 17. At dawn of day, I found every perfon complaining, and fome of them folicited extra al I lowance; lowance; which I pofitively refused. The night was dark and difmal; the fea conftantly breaking over us, and nothing but the wind and waves to direct our steerage. The little rum we had was of great fervice: for when our nights were particularly distreffing, I generally ferved a tea-fpoonful or two to each person: and it was always joyful tidings when they heard of tions. my inten MONDAY, MAY 18. In the morning the rain abated. The customary allowance of one 25th of a pound of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water, was ferved at breakfast, dinner, and fupper. In the night, we had very fevere lightning, with heavy rains; and were obliged to keep baling without intermiffion. TUESDAY, MAY 19. Very bad weather and conftant rain. With the allowance of bread and water, ferved half an ounce of pork to each perfon for dinner. WEDNESDAY, May 20. Fresh breezes with conAlways baling. At ftant rain; at times a deluge. dawn of day, fome of my people seemed half dead: our appearances were horrible; and I could look no way, but I caught the eye of fome one in diftrefs. Extreme hunger was now too evident, but no one fuffered from thirst. The little fleep we got was in the midst of 3 Y 2 water, water, and we constantly awoke with severe cramps and pain in our bones. This morning I ferved about two tea fpoonfuls of rum to each perfon, and the allowance of bread and water, as ufual. All the afternoon we were fo covered with rain and falt water, that we could fcarcely fee. We fuffered extreme cold, and every one dreaded the approach of night. Sleep, though we longed for it, afforded no relief: for my own part, I almoft lived without it. About two o'clock in the morning we were overwhelmed with a deluge of rain. It fell fo heavy that we were afraid it would fill the boat, and were obliged to bale with all our might. THURSDAY, MAY 21. At dawn of day I ferved a larger allowance of rum. Towards noon the rain abated and the fun fhone; but we were miferably cold and wet, the fea breaking constantly over us; fo that, notwithstanding the heavy rain, we had not been able to add to our stock of fresh water. FRIDAY, MAY 22. Our fituation this day was extremely calamitous. We were obliged to take the course of the fea, running right before it, and watching with the utmost care, as the leaft error in the helm would in a moment have been our deftruction. At noon it blew very hard, and the foam of the fea kept running over Our |