APPENDIX. 



181 



the temporary rigg^ing up, to secure the stump of the foremast which 

 had carried away the wedges in the partners, and had about three 

 inches play in the step, from the heel of the mast being decayed ; 

 nearly the whole of the standing rigging was lost, from night coming 

 on, and it being necessary to get the wreck clear of the vessel as 

 soon as possible, lest it should carry away the rudder, and other- 

 wise damage the hull of the vessel. 



Not having an axe, or any thing but a cooper's drawing-knife, that 

 would cut the rigging in the eyes, which had hide on them that had 

 been placed there several years before, we were obliged to haul it up 

 taut and cut on the rail, thereby rendering it useless for any thing 

 but junk. 



There were scarcely any nails on board the vessel ; and it was 

 with the greatest difficulty we succeeded, by shifting two cleats up a 

 slippery mast, in getting a tackle each side for shrouds, and a hawser 

 for a stay. At eight, p.m., observed the Blonde north-west one 

 mile ; fired a rocket, and burnt three blue lights ; no answer re- 

 turned. 



At about midnight we set the jib, peak of foresail, and Beagle's 

 boat sail for a main-sail ; during the whole of this time it w^as blow- 

 ing fresh from the north-west, with heavy rain and a cross sea, which 

 caused the vessel to roll her gunwale under each time ; every one 

 was quite exhausted, particularly those men who had been hanging 

 on the mast, getting the tackles secured, the watch therefore was set 

 until daylight. 



Tuesday, 30th. Employed getting the foremast better secured, by 

 raising sheers with fore-yard and jib-boom, and placing a pair of 

 shrouds on each side, about twenty feet from the deck, and an extra 

 stay to set a stay-sail on, the whole kept up by a few spikes drawn 

 out of the beams. At ten, a.m. strong winds from the westward, with 

 heavy rain ; saw the north-west extreme of Mocha, bearing south- 

 south-east, three miles distant ; wore to the north-east, to give time 

 to get more sail on the vessel, intending to weather the island, if 

 possible ; if not, to run to leeward, and then stretch off to the south- 

 ward and westward. Noon ; wore, strong winds and squally, with a 

 heavy head sea ; at two, set foresail, double-reefed ; observed the north- 

 west extreme of Mocha, south by east, one mile and a quarter dis- 

 tant. At three, p.m., when the north-west extreme bore north-east, 

 the wind changed suddenly to south-west, bringing the rocks off the 



