APPENDIX. 409 



gales from about south-southwest to west-by-north, accompanied by a 

 very large sea, — vessel labouring much, decks and ways becoming 

 leaky, but sustained no material damage until the 5th March, when 

 our jib was badly split. 



On the 7th, we reached our first rendezvous, and whilst lying-to 

 there in a heavy gale, our decks were frequently swept by the sea, 

 and boats crushed. On the night of the same, the sea boarded us, 

 ripped off the companion-slide, washed the larboard binnacle from its 

 cleats and lashings overboard, injured the helmsman and look-out, and 

 half filled the cabin. 



On the evening of the next day, the wind moderating, set the 

 reefed mainsail, but the vessel sending violently in the old sea, parted 

 the reef-pendant, and tore the sail badly ; took in the second reef and 

 set it. 



On the 9 th, the leakage increasing from stress of weather, were 

 obliged to move aft all the bread, replacing its weight in the bread- 

 room by less perishable stores. 



On the 11th, in the morning, found our new jib nearly gone from the 

 stay, but one or two hanks remaining ; got it in, and afterwards bent 

 it with a lacing; set the reefed mainsail, and lowered the foresail for 

 repairs ; parted again the reef-pendant of the mainsail ; took the third 

 reef in it ; finished the repairs of the foresail, set it, and furled the 

 mainsail. 



We were now up with our second rendezvous ; but the wind growing 

 fresh and the sea rising, the weather thick, with a heavy fall of snow, 

 and feeling confident I should only lose time by heaving-to, stood on 

 for the third rendezvous. 



I have been particular in stating our losses in sails, as it was one of 

 the heavy causes of our not reaching the rendezvous sooner. I had 

 determined on making the old sails last, if possible, for the passage 

 south, reserving the better suit for our return, when, from the lateness 

 of the season, I believed we should encounter, if possible, more tem- 

 pestuous weather ; and owing to the close stowage of the hold, it 

 would have been no trifling labour under the circumstances to have 

 broken out for them ; and, furthermore, the old suit would necessarily 

 have gone below wet, to increase the discomfort of the already com- 

 fortless condition of the 'tween decks. 



The weather continuing much the same, with the addition of rain, 

 hail, and snow, in almost every watch on the 14th and 15th, we 

 reached the third rendezvous, where we hove-to for nearly twenty- 

 four-hours. 



I now despaired of again joining you, but nevertheless felt it my 



VOL. I. 212 51 



