THE PELEW ISLANDS, 
7 
and fair; this opportunity was embraced to open the ports, 
and wafli and cleanfe the fhip below, as well as to overhaul 
and clean their fmall arms, and give the officers inftru6Uons 
for the voyage. In the evening there was very hard rain, 
with variable winds. 
But the fucceeding day, the wind being favourable, gave 
them an opportunity of examining and drying fome of their 
provifion, particularly fome Chinefe hams and dry fiffi, which 
conftituted part of their victualling, and had got damp in the 
exceffive rains. They faw a great quantity of fiffi fwimming 
about the fhip, but could not catch any, as they would not 
take the baits. No rains during the laft twenty-four hours, 
but the next morning the weather became overcafl and they 
were again vifited with rain in the evening, which continued 
very hard all night and the fucceeding day, with variable 
winds, fo that they made very little progrefs on their 
voyage. The next morning was more moderate, and to¬ 
wards noon the weather cleared up and they got an obfer- 
vation, by which they found their latitude was i6° 25' north. 
In the afternoon it fell calm, which gave them the means of 
trying the current, which they found to fet to the E. N. E, 
at the rate of half a mile an hour. In the evening Captain 
Wilson exercifed fome of the Chinefe men with rowing in 
the jolly-boat for an hour or two, to teach them to ufe an 
oar when needful. The following day being fair, and the 
wind moderate, all were again employed in clearing and 
r 
i cleaning 
1783- 
JULY, 
Tuefday 29. 
Wednefday 
30- 
Thurfday 
3 1 * 
AUGUST. 
Friday 1, 
Saturday 2> 
