ill not work
to windward; put back from whence we came, and sent the people ashore to
get muscles. This night departed this life Mr Thomas Caple, son of the late
Lieutenant Caple, aged twelve years, who perish'd for want of food. There
was a person on board who had some of the youth's money, upwards of twenty
guineas, with a watch and silver cup. Those last the boy was willing to
sell for flour; but his guardian told him, he would buy cloaths for him in
the Brazil. The miserable youth cry'd, Sir, I shall never live to see the
Brazil, I am starving now, almost starv'd to death, therefore, for God's
sake, give me my silver cup to get me some victuals or buy some for me
yourself. All his prayers and intreaties to him were vain, but heaven sent
death to his relief, and put a period to his miseries in an instant.
Persons who have not experienc'd the hardships we have met with, will
wonder how people can be so inhuman to see their fellow-creatures starving
before their faces, and afford 'em no relief: But hunger is void of all
compassion; every person was so intent on the preservation of his own life,
that he was regardless of another's, and the bowels of commiseration were
shut up. We slip no opportunity, day or night, to enter into the suppos'd
right Streights, but can get no ground. This day we serv'd flour and a
piece of beef between two men for a week. Captain P----n, of his majesty's
land forces, gave two guineas for two pounds of flour; this flour was sold
him by the seamen, who live on muscles. Many of the people eat their flour
raw as soon as they are serv'd it. The wind and weather not permitting us
to go out, the men were employ'd in getting wood and water.

Tuesday the 24th, this morning it being calm, row'd out, at eight o'clock
had the supposed right Streights open, having a breeze at W.N.W. S.E. by E.
through the first reach, and S.S.E. through the second, then saw three
islands, the largest of which lies on the north-shore, and there is a
passage about two miles broad between that and the islands to the
southward; there is also another passage between that island and the north-
shore, of a mile and a half broad. Before you come to those islands there
is a sound lying on the south-shore: You can see no passage until you come
close up with the island, and then the imaginary Streights are not above
two miles broad. Steer'd away for the island S.E. about two leagues, then
came into a narrow passage, not above a cabl