Towards New Holland.-] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
47 
see them further south. The spouting of a whale was occasionally isoi. 
perceived, and became more frequent on approaching the island ; the November - 
number of small blue petrels was also increased, and a few Cape 
hens then made their appearance. 
At five in the evening of tbe 24th, the mean variation from Tuesday 24. 
three compasses on the binnacle, was observed to be 23" 7' west, 
with the ship's head E. S. E., or 20 0 4' true. Our latitude was then 
38 0 20' south, longitude 76° 26' east; and at eleven at night, having 
nearly reached the longitude of Amsterdam, whose situation I 
wished to compare with the time keepers, we hove to, in a parallel 
between it and the island St. Paul. At five next morning, we steered Wednes. 25. 
southward to make Amsterdam ; but having reached its latitude, and 
no land being visible, our eastwardly course was resumed. The 
weather was thick, so that objects could not be distinguished beyond 
five or six miles ; and at noon the ship was found to have been set 
23' of longitude to the east of what the log gave. From these joint 
causes it must have been that Amsterdam was not perceived, if its 
situation of 38° 43' south and 77 0 40' east, as made in His Majesty's 
ship Providence, in 1792, were rightJy ascertained. 
In passages like this, when fortunately made, it is seldom that 
any circumstance occurs, of sufficient interest to be related. Our 
employments were to clean, dry, and air the ship below ; and the 
seamen's clothes and bedding, with the sails, upon deck. These, 
with the exercise of the great guns and small arms, were our prin- 
cipal employments in fine weather ; and when otherwise, we were 
wet and uncomfortable, and could do little. It was a great satisfac- 
tion that frequent pumping of the ship was not now required, the 
greatest quantity of water admitted during this passage being less 
than two inches an hour. The antiseptics issued were sour krout 
and vinegar, to the extent of the applications for them ; and at half 
an hour before noon every day, a pint of strong wort, made by pour- 
ing boiling water upon the essence of malt, was given to each man. 
