________________
APRIL, 1902.)
THE WREOK OF THE "DODDINGTON," 1755.
189
Thursday 4th. The First part Moderate and Fair Wear but Soon Change to s bard Gale and Dirty Wes! With Very Large Ses. Soon After we got under weigh [Weight] it Began to Fresben from the Westward. - We Close Reefd the Main Sail and got the Bowsprit in, then Lay too which was about 1: o Clock in Which Situation The Vegsell Seem to Behave Well, which gave me great Hopes of Proceeding to Tbo Cape. But Soon After was Convinced to the Contrary; for When I little Expected it She Shipp! a Ses, which had like to have Waxh'ed all the Watcb off Deck, Soon After that Another. So I found that we should not be able to cope with the Seas, We Were Liable to meet with in going to the Southward. [Therefore] I Propos'd going to the Noward Again ; which was Agreed to and at 2 Bore away. To the Eastward again. From That Time till 9 o Clock, the Gale Continued to Increase and I think in all the Time I have been to Sea, Never Saw [any thing So] Frightfulla sen as there was from 5 : 0 Clock (till] to 9. For my part must Own I Expected to perish in it Every Moment.
Friday 5th. The First and Middle Parts Squally with Rain, Latter pleasent Gales, and fair Weer. At Sun Sett the Extreems (Extremes of the Land from N EBN to WSW Dist of Shore 3 Leagues. Since my last Observation Find my Self 65 Miles to the Soward of Account Latt. Obser! 33°: 34 8o.
Saturday Maroh eth 1768. The First & Latter parts Moderato : & fair. Middle Squally and Some Rain. At Sun Sett the Extreems (Extremes] of the Land from E B N to W+ Dist 5 Miles. Find my Self This Day 6 Miles to the Sward of Account from the Time That we Bare Away to the Eastward Again. When the Wind was Westerly Steerd of the Land to gett an offing and Make a search slong Shore, when the Wind Comes to the E'ward in Hopes by that Means to Make a Better band of it. But it proves (proved] to the Contrary: for by the Make of the Land find Ourselves no farthar to the Eward, then [than) We Were this day Week, tho: we have bad the Wind in Our Favour. For This [These] 3 days past, have dressd Our Victuals with the Remaining part of The Cable we parted, and this day there was a Silver pint Mugg Offer for 6 Biscuits. Went to an allowance of Water 2 Q" pr Man, having only 3 Hogsheads & left, which will Last us About a Fortnight. We are now Standing in Shore in order to fish and Are determined Next fair Wind to Run Close along Shore, in the Eddy of the points, Notwithstanding we did not Think the Wind large Enough, at S WBW and Our Course Et for it Blow so hard & the Sea Ran so High That We Were Obliged to keep her Right before it Latt! Obs83o: 4 So.
Sunday March 7. Light Airs and Calms. Att 2 P M Got the Boat Out and 3 Men went in Shore to look for a Landing Place, but could find None. At 3 Anchored and Caught fish Enough, to last us 2 Days, the Extreems (Extremes of the Land from East to W. Dist 1 Mile. The Rock Where [off which] we lost our Grapnail of off last Sunday E B N Dist 8 Miles. At 2 AM Weigh and Sailed Close along shore. Still meet a Current Setting to the Wtward 1 Mile [Knot] pr. hour. At 7 Falling Calm, Ancho and Soon After Saw Severall of the Natives, Close down to the Water Side, At the Same Tine Saw Severall droves of Cattell [Cattle] Which Encouraged me to Send our Boat ashore Once More and try if they could Land. When they Came in Shore Found the Surf to Run [Ran] Very High, but being encouraged by the Natives who Seem greatly Rejoyced at the Sight of our People, one Tho. Arnold went on Shore, but had like to have to pay (paid] dear for it, Not being, Able, to Gett off Again thro: the Surf, but Sailing Along Shore 4 or 5 Miles, Came to a Small Bay Where there was a Little Surf by Which Means got him off and He gave the Following Description of the Natives at his first Landing. They Seem'd a Little Shy of him, but he Advanced towards them Making Motions of Submission all the way be went. He Came to a Number of them Setting down, who Made Motions for him to Sett down, by them
