NORTH WEST COAST OF ^AMERICA. 49 



CHAP. 

 III. 



1786. 



We continued our voyage without making much pro- 

 grefs, as the wind was generally in the Weftern board, 

 blowing frefh and in fqualls ; the weather very ftormy February 

 and unfettled. Our latitude at. noon on the i8th was ^'"^^^ 

 55° 31' South, and the mean refult of feveral lunar ob- 

 fervations gave 8 2° 2 2' Weft longitude. 



During this inten^al every change of wind was pre- 

 ceded by a fudden fquall, which generally was of fliort 

 continuance, and fucceeded by a calm : not being able to 

 carry topgallant-fails in fuch critical weather, I kept the 

 yards down, and the topgallant -mafts ftruck clofe down 

 to the top fail-yards, fwaying them up, or lowering them 

 down, as we had occafion to take reefs in the topfails : 

 indeed I find this method of great advantage to the fhip, 

 not only as it ferves to eafe the topmaft-heads, but makes 

 her held a much better wind. 



On the 2 2d, the weather being very line, I ordered the Wednef. 21, 

 failors hammocks to be brought upon deck and their bed- 

 clothes to be well aired ; being well alTured that inattention 

 to things of this nature often occafions fatality amongft fea- 

 men. Our obfervation at noon gave 54.* 4' South latitude, 

 and the longitude by lunar obfervation was 81° ig Weft; 

 in this fituat ion we found the variation to be 22° 56' Eaft- 

 erly. We ftill had fqually unfettled weather with North- 

 erly and Wefterly winds. 



In the afternoon of the 25 th a very ftrong gale came on Saturday 25. 

 at North Weft ; notwithftandiiig which we were under tiie 

 neceftity of carrying more fail than the fliip could ' 



H \vd\ 



