362 
GREENLAND VOYAGE. 
loured water passed through this day, was taken 
up and preserved for future examination. 
The morning of Monday was hazy and squally, 
with dark threatening clouds, collected in the 
southern quarter. Beginning to blow hard, we 
were soon put under close-reefed topsails. At 
noon, however, the sky broke, and the wind sud¬ 
denly moderated, and veered from E. to SSE. 
Deceived by the improved appearance of the 
heavens, without consulting the more faithful 
monitor, the barometer, we shook out the reefs of 
the topsails, and set top-gallant sails. But this 
moderation of the gale was of short continuance. 
It chopped again round to the E., and presently 
obliged us to reduce our canvas. Towards night, 
the barometer sank to 28.35.; which, being a 
greater depression than I had ever before observed 
on the homeward passage,’ indicated a hard gale. 
We made all possible preparation with this ex¬ 
pectation ; but fortunately, the easterly wind con¬ 
tinued with us, and resisted the force of the storm 
predicted by the barometer, that evidently pre¬ 
vailed with prodigious violence at a short distance 
to the westward of us. Of this we had sufficient 
evidence in the rising of a “ head-sea” so tremen¬ 
dous, that it greatly endangered our bowsprit and 
masts. 
In the course of the day I obtained two or 
