41i AVOYAGETO 



«779- our making any obfervation ; unfortunately, at the time of 



November. , . 



the greateft darknefs, a ieaman, in flowing the main top- 

 mad flay-fail, fell overboard, but laying hold of a rope, 

 which providentially was hanging out of the fore-chains 

 into the water, and the fhip being quickly brought in the 

 wind, he was got on board without any other hurt than a 

 flight bruife on his fhoulder. At eight, the weather clear- 

 ing, we bore away, but the wind blew ftill fo ftrong that 

 we carried no other fail than the fore-fail, and the main 

 top-fail clofe reeft. About this time we faw a land bird re- 

 fembling a thrufh, and a fugar cane ; at noon, the lati- 

 tude, by obfervation, was 21 35', and longitude 121° 35'. 



As our fituation in longitude was now to the Weft of the 

 Bafhee, according to Mr. Dalrymple's maps, I perceived 

 that Captain Gore was governed, in the courfe he was fleer- 

 ing, by the opinions of Commodore Byron and Captain 

 Wallis, with whom he failed when they patted thefe iflands. 

 The former placing it near four degrees to the Welhvard, 

 or in longitude 11 8° 14'. In confequence of this opinion, at 

 two, we flood to the Southward, with a view of getting 

 into the fame parallel of latitude with the iflands, before we 

 ran down our longitude. At fix, we were nearly in that 

 fituation, and consequently ought to have been in fight of 

 land, according to Mr. Wallis's account, who places the 

 Bafhees near three degrees more to the Eaftward than Mr, 

 Byron The gale, at this time, had not in the leaft abated ; 

 and Captain Gore, ftill conceiving that the iflands mull un- 

 doubtedly lie to the Welhvard, brought the fhips to, with 

 their heads to the North Wert, under the fore-fail and bal- 

 lanced mizen. 



At 



