have been
our destruction.

At noon it blew very hard and the foam of the sea kept running over our
stern and quarters; I however got propped up and made an observation of
the latitude in 14 degrees 17 minutes south; course north 85 degrees west
distance 130 miles; longitude made 29 degrees 38 minutes west.

The misery we suffered this night exceeded the preceding. The sea flew
over us with great force and kept us baling with horror and anxiety.

Saturday 23.

At dawn of day I found everyone in a most distressed condition, and I
began to fear that another such night would put an end to the lives of
several who seemed no longer able to support their sufferings. I served
an allowance of two teaspoonfuls of rum, after drinking which, having
wrung our clothes and taken our breakfast of bread and water, we became a
little refreshed.

Towards noon the weather became fair, but with very little abatement of
the gale and the sea remained equally high. With some difficulty I
observed the latitude to be 13 degrees 44 minutes south: course since
yesterday noon north 74 degrees west, distance 116 miles; longitude made
31 degrees 32 minutes west from Tofoa.

The wind moderated in the evening and the weather looked much better,
which rejoiced all hands so that they ate their scanty allowance with
more satisfaction than for some time past. The night also was fair but,
being always wet with the sea, we suffered much from the cold.

Sunday 24.

A fine morning, I had the pleasure to see, produced some cheerful
countenances and, the first time for 15 days past, we experienced comfort
from the warmth of the sun. We stripped and hung our clothes up to dry,
which were by this time become so threadbare that they would not keep out
either wet or cold.

At noon I observed in latitude 13 degrees 33 minutes south; longitude by
account from Tofoa 33 degrees 28 minutes west; course north 84 degrees
west, distance 114 miles. With the usual allowance of bread and water for
dinner I served an ounce of pork to each person. This afternoon we had
many birds about us which are never seen far from land, such as boobies
and noddies.

ALLOWANCE LESSENED.

As the sea began to run fair, and we shipped but little water, I took the
opportunity to examine into the state of our bread and found that,
according to the present mode of issuing, there was a sufficient quantity
remaining for 29 days allowance, by which time I hoped we should be able
to rea