1840.] Wreck of the Transport '' Indian Oak.'' 919 



Monday y lOth August. Parted company with H. M's. ship " Alli- 

 gator," off Keeto Point, Chusan, and passed out, between the Buffalo's 

 Nose and the Quesan Islands. 



At 9 P.M. the S. Easternmost Island, Pata-hecock, bore EbN. 4 to 

 5 miles, blowing a fresh breeze from the northward, steered SEbE. 



Noon, Tuesday llth.-^ln Lat. by Obs. 28^^ 26' 17"; Long. Ch. 123'' 

 24' 15" E. departure taken from Chusan said to be in 122^ 6' E. 

 of Greenwich ; at this time blowing a hard gale from NNE. with a 

 high sea ; the ship was reduced to close-reefed topsails, and topgallant 

 yards sent down on deck. Bar. 29° 63'. 



Midnight. Severe gale and high sea, Bar. 29° 50'. 

 Noon, Wednesday 12^A.— Lat. Obs. 27° 13' 22" N. ; Long. Ch. 124° 

 55' 45" E. ; Bar. 29° 40' ; ship's main rigging very slack, and in great 

 danger of losing the main-mast ; sent down the gallant mast, and swifted 

 the rigging in. Furled the fore and mizen-topsails, and hove to under 

 close-reefed main- topsails. 



Midnight. Gale very severe from the northward, blowing in gusts, 

 with rain and a very high sea. Bar. 29° 35'. 



Noon, Thursday 13^A.— Lat. Obs. 26^^ 29', N. ; Long. Ch. 124° 51' E. ; 

 Bar. 29° 35', p.m. 3, somewhat more moderate, set the fore-topsail 

 and steered EbS. 



6 P.M. Set fore-sail, and at 10 p.m. set the main-sail. Midnight strong 

 gales and hard squalls. 



Friday, l^th. — 10 a.m. course per log, from noon of yesterday, 

 allowing one point lee-way for the heave of the sea, placed the 

 ship in as follows : — Course per log 166° 30' E. 121 miles. Lat. D. R. 

 26° 51' N. ; Long. R. R. 127° 2', from which Capt. Grainger consi- 

 dered himself well to the SW. of the Loochoo Group, when in the 

 act of working up the above reckoning, discoloured water was reported 

 by the officer of the watch, and the ship immediately hauled up SSW. 

 the wind previously having hauled to the NW. in a very severe squall, 

 shifted to the westward of the ship, broke off the SSE. ; land and breakers 

 were now seen on our lee quarter, extending to SSW. on our weather 

 bow; wore ship and stood to the northward, at this time the fore-top- 

 mast staysail, fore-topsail, and foresail, were blown out of the bolt 

 ropes ; found ourselves unable to weather the north point of the Island, 

 off which was a long extent of heavy breakers, and a very high sea 



