in the Pacific Ocean. 



13 



pectation of avoiding, in future, the sudden gusts, and the irre- 

 gular seas, which we supposed were owing to violent currents, 

 and confined to the neighbourhood of the coast. But in this 

 expectation we w^ere much disappointed ; for, as we receded from 

 the coast, the gale increased : and it was in vain that we hoped 

 for that moderate and pleasant weather which former navigators 

 have generally experienced in the latitude of 60^ south, which 

 we reached on the 18th. From the time we lost sight of the land 

 until this period, the gales blew hard from the north-west, ac- 

 companied with heavy rains, cold disagreeable tv^eather, and a 

 dangerous sea. 



On the afternoon of the 18th, a gale came on from the west- 

 ward, which, for its violence, equalled any described by that his- 

 torian. But, as my experience had already taught me, that 

 moderate weather was not to be expected in this part of the 

 world, at this season of the year, I determnied to carry all the 

 sail in my pov/er, to endeavour to get to the northward as fast 

 as possible ; and v/ith much difBculty, and great risk of splitting 

 the sail, succeeded in getting the close-reefed main- topsail set. 

 With this, and the fore, main, and mizen storm-staysails, we 

 were enabled to force the ship about two knots, through a tre- 

 mendous head sea, which threatened every moment destruction to 

 our bowsprit and masts. The gale, however, increasing, we 

 were soon reduced to the main storm-staysail, and from that to 

 bare poles. About 12 o'clock, the wind hauled around to the 

 southwest, and blew in dreadful squalls, accompanied with hail ; 

 and as this enabled us to steer northwest, and (allowing for the 

 drift and variation) make a north course good, which I believed 

 would take us clear of the west point of Terra del Fuego, I got 

 all the yards well secured, by preventer-braces; and, by watching 

 a favourable opportunity, set the close-reefed fore and main 

 topsails, and reefed foresail. The squalls came at intervals of 

 from fifteen to twenty minutes, with so little warning, and with 

 such tremendous blasts, that it was impossible to shorten sail ; for 

 to have started the sheets, after they had struck the ship, would 

 have been attended with the certain loss of the sail. I therefore 

 saw no alternative, but running before the wind while they lasted, 

 and as soon as they were over, which was generally in two or 

 three minutes, hauled again by the wind. Thus, by the utmost 

 attention and care, we were enabled to get along, at the rate of 

 between five and six miles per hour ; and on the 2 1 st, found 

 ourselves, by estimation, in the latitude of 57^-30' south, and 

 the longitude of 77" west. 



It was with no little joy, Ave now saw ourselves fairly in the 

 Pacific ocean, and calculated on a speedy end to all our sufferings. 

 We began also to form our projects for annoying the enemy. 



