120 



PROGRESS ROUND 



IS24. that north-east, (compass) was in fact north-east 

 Sept. true, and that there was now no magnetic error 

 on that bearing. At nine A.M., therefore, we 

 were constrained to heave to, absolutely from 

 not knowing how to steer, and in the fore- 

 noon the opportune appearance of the sun 

 enabled me to discover new errors. From 

 this circumstance, I began to entertain hopes 

 that the compasses were gradually recover- 

 ing themselves, but as the sun was very soon 

 hidden again, we ran forward in doubt, as, 

 should the compasses so far regain their pola- 

 rity as only to require correction for the regu- 

 lar variations, without our being aware of it at 

 the moment, we should carry the ship directly 

 for the shoals, while imagining that we were 

 running some points clear of them. This oc- 

 casioned me considerable anxiety, which would 

 have been not a Httle increased by the time we 

 were losing, and the water we were expending, 

 had not Mr. Leyson (Assistant-surgeon,) with 

 his usual zeal and quickness, contrived an in- 

 genious and simple method of distilhng water 

 from the coppers, which ensured us, while the 

 weather was moderate, a quart a man per diem. 

 I was of course aware that we had a full navi- 

 gable fortnight before us, yet could not but feel 

 anxious about replenishing water, as, in our 



