392 



A VOYAGE TO 



'779- On the 17th, at noon, we were in latitude 45 7', by ob- 



October. . ■ , 



< , » fervation, longitude 154 o. The wind now again coming 



to the Wefhvard, obliged us to fleer a more Southerly courfe; 

 and, at midnight, it blew from that quarter a frefli gale, 

 accompanied with heavy rain. In the morning, we faw 

 another land-bird, and many flocks of gulls and petcrels 

 bending their courfe to the South Weft. The heavy North 

 Eafl fwell, with which we had conftantly laboured fince 

 our departure from Lopatka, now ceafed, and changed 



Monday 18. fuddenly to the South Eaft. In the forenoon of the i8th, we 

 palled great quantities of rock-weed, from which, and the 

 flights of birds above mentioned, we conjectured we were 

 at no great diflance from the Southernmoft of the Kuriles ; 

 and, at the fame time, the wind coming round to the South, 

 enabled us to ftand in for it. At two, we fet fludding-fails, 

 and fleered Weft; but the wind increafing to a gale, foon 

 obliged us to double reef the topfails ; and, at midnight, we 

 judged it neceffary to try for foundings. Accordingly we 

 hove to; but, finding no bottom at feventy-five fathoms, 

 we were encouraged to perfevere, and again bore away 

 Weft, with the wind at South Eaft. This courfe we kept 



Tuefday 19. till two in the morning, when the weather becoming thick, 

 we hauled our wind, and fleered to the South Weft till five, 

 when a violent florm reduced us to our courfes. 



Notwithftanding the unfavourable ftatc of the weather 

 left us little profpect of making the land, we ftill kept this 

 object anxioufly in view ; and, at day-light, ventured to 

 fleer Weft by South, and continued to Hand on in this di- 

 rection till ten in the forenoon, when the wind, fuddenly 

 fhifting to the South Weft, brought with it clear weather. 

 Of this we had fcarccly taken advantage, by fetting the top- 

 fails, and letting out the reels, when it began to blow fo 



flrong 



