the South Sea, 



which is the Sotithermoft of Staten-Land. We fiood S. S. E* 

 by the Compafs, and yet our Courfe was fcarcc E. and 

 by S. the violent Stream of Ebb carrying us away, as it 

 fets along the South^Side of Staten-Land, and returns that 

 Way into Streight le Maire. At length we turn'd that 

 Cape, and at the Clofe of the Night it bore N. W. from 

 us, about two Leagues diftant ; but the Weather growing 

 tempeftuous, we were oblig'd to lie by, under a Main- 

 fail back'd and reef 'd, in great Fear for our Lives, know- 

 ing we were fo near Land, and to the Windward of it. 

 Then the moft Undaunted took up ferious Thoughts; for 

 it may be faid, we only expe£ted the Moment we fhould 

 be drove on the Coaft, in a dark Night, and dreadful 

 Weather, without any Hope of being able to help.ourfelves. 

 The Charts threatned inevitable Shipwreck but 3 to our 

 Happinefs, Staten-Land on the South-Side, does not bear 

 E. S. E. and W. N. W. as laid down in the Charts, but 

 lies E. and W. in refpeft to the Globe, and inclines a little 

 to the North, near Cape S. Bartholomew, as w r e had ob- 

 ferv'd before Night. In fliort, lying by, we muft have 

 fallen off E. and by S. in refpe&of the Globe, and accord- 

 ingly fliould have inevitably perifli'd. 



To this might be anfwer'd, that the fame Current which 

 carry'd us along the Coaft of Staten-Land, might hinder 

 our driving fo much to N. E. as we fhould otherwife have 

 done, becaufe it muft run as the Coaft does, near the 

 Land, and keep us at the fame Diftance. This Opinion 

 would be probable, if other Ships had not better than we, 

 obferv'd the Pofition we fpeak of. Befides, it is evident 

 that we drove very much to the Eaft ; for about Nine in 

 the Morning, the Weather clearing up a little, we faw nc* 

 more Land, tho' we could not be above two Leagues 

 South, or S. E. from it at moft, if it extends 13 or 14 

 Leagues from the Streight, as thofe who have coafted it, 

 affure us. 



Whilft we were beginning to chear up and rejoyce for 

 having efcap'd being wreck'd, we were under much Un- 



F 2 cafinefs. 



