WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White 217 



am standing on the starboard tack again to-night. 12th. 

 Had to face off to the west last night owing to the 

 heavy seas, and to-day we are beating up to the east. At 

 daylight this morning the sea looked angry and black; the 

 sun rose through a heavy bank of clouds. We are making 

 heavy work of it to-day. 13th. Had to put the yacht about 

 several times last night, but have her on the port tack, and 

 will keep her there if possible to cross the Gulf of Carpentaria 

 The wind has gone more to the south, and the sea is not so 

 high, still a nasty short one is worse. I had frequent soundings 

 taken during the day, and the bottom of the ocean is very 

 uneven, for at some castings of the lead only five fathoms of 

 water shown, while at the next cast no bottom could be 

 touched. 14th. Have been running into a heavy head sea 

 all night and to-day, and I will be glad to get over to the east 

 side of the gulf. I am having much trouble with my crew to 

 make them obey orders. A large waterspout was seen to-day 

 not very distant from the ship. The wind is blowing 

 strongly again, and I have had to reduce the sail again. 

 15th. I changed the course again at eight bells this morning. 

 My little vessel was making hard and dirty work of it, for 

 terrific squalls accompanied by rain burst over us very fre- 

 quently, and with a heavy sea made the craft plunge a great 

 deal. 16th. We had a bad night; the yacht was thrashed 

 with wind and rain, and dowsed with heavy seas all night. 

 i have lost all confidence in my officers and men, and have to 

 remain almost continually on deck. I have been drenched 

 for days now, first with fresh water, and the next five 

 minutes with salt. I will be glad to get to Gape York, when 

 I can have a rest and straighten these fellows up, A heavy 

 sea carried one of the boats off the davits, but fortunately it 

 hung by the painter, and we were able to get it on board again 

 with only the loss of the side-benches. The seas are running 

 very high to-night. 18th. The sea is running high still, and 

 wind blowing hard, this makes thirteen days of very dirty 

 weather. No land in sight. I will be glad when the strain 

 is over. 19th. The wind went down towards morning, and 

 the sea moderated some, but at daylight rose again, and the 

 sea regained its former height. In spite of the weather birds 

 have been with us all through the voyage. Last night a little 

 black backed tern came and sat on the skylight close to me 

 while I was at the wheel, and allowed me to put my hand on it. 

 for it was exhausted with battling against the wind and sea. 

 Several little companies of tropic birds have been seen at 

 different times. A dav or so ago I saw an unfortunate white- 



