At four in the afternoon we caught a small dolphin, the first relief of
the kind we obtained. I issued about two ounces to each person,
including the offals, and saved the remainder for dinner the next day.
Towards evening the wind freshened, and it blew strong all night, so
that we shipped much water, and suffered greatly from the wet and cold.
At day-light, as usual, I heard much complaining, which my own feelings
convinced me was too well founded. I gave the surgeon and Lebogue a
little wine, but I could give no farther relief, than assurances that a
very few days longer, at our present fine rate of sailing, would bring
us to Timor.
Gannets, boobies, men of war and tropic birds, were constantly about us.
Served the usual allowance of bread and water, and at noon dined on the
remains of the dolphin, which amounted to about an ounce per man. I
observed the latitude to be 9 deg. 9' S; longitude made 10 deg. 8' W; course
since yesterday noon S 76 deg. W; distance 107 miles.
[Sidenote: Wednesday 10.]
Wednesday, June the 10th. Wind E S E. Fresh gales and fair weather, but
a continuance of much sea, which, by breaking almost constantly over the
boat, made us miserably wet, and we had much cold to endure in the
night.
This afternoon I suffered great sickness from the oily nature of part of
the stomach of the fish, which had fallen to my share at dinner. At
sun-set I served an allowance of bread and water for supper. In the
morning, after a very bad night, I could see an alteration for the worse
in more than half my people. The usual allowance was served for
breakfast and dinner. At noon I found our situation to be in latitude 9 deg.
16' S; longitude from the north part of New Holland 12 deg. 1' W; course
since yesterday noon W 1/2 S, distance 111 miles.
[Sidenote: Thursday 11.]
Thursday, June the 11th. Fresh gales and fair weather. Wind S E and S S
E.
[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 11.]
Birds and rock-weed showed that we were not far from land; but I
expected such signs must be here, as there are many islands between the
east part of Timor and New Guinea. I however hoped to fall in with Timor
every hour, for I had great apprehensions that some of my people could
not hold out. An extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow and ghastly
countenances, great propensity to sleep, with an apparent debility of
understanding, seemed to me melancholy presages of their approaching
dissolution. The surgeon and Lebogue, in particular were most miserable
objects. I occasionally gave them a few tea-spoonfuls of wine, out of
the little I had saved for this dreadful stage, which no doubt greatly
helped to support them.
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