Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/391

 H.M.S, 6FABBIAK* 331 The people this day appeared to be in a more hopeless state ^"^ than ever, and discovered signs of disrespect to their officers, which was, however, happily checked in time by the spirited conduct of insubordi- the gunner, who chastised the leader in the face of the whole crew, "**^<>°- and restored discipline. Many of the people this day drank their own urine, and others tried the salt-water. The weather was this day more warm and sultry than at any time since our misfortunes. Jan. 1. — We dined this day as on the preceding, and in general Better appeared in better spirits, which we considered, on account of its being the first day of the new year, a happy presage of our safety. Jan. 2. — Clear weather till about 4 in the afternoon, when it became overcast and blew a fresh gale. We had before this dined a fresh gale. on our usual fare of biscuit and water, with half a measure of rum, and were all in tolerable spirits ; but the gale increasing during the night, and the sea running immensely high, brought us again into great danger, which, with the disappointment of not seeing land in the morning, as expected, i^uced us to our former miser- able state of despondency. At eight in the evening the fore-sail was shifted to the main-mast, and the boat sailed under it reefed till about six in the morning, when the mizen was set on the foremast, to give her greater steerage-way. At noon the latitude Position, was by observation 33 deg. 19 min., and supposed longitude E. of Greenwich 34 deg. 15 min. Jan. 3 — About seven in the evening the clouds put on the appear- ance of a very heavy rain, but unfortunately broke over in a most dreadful storm of thunder and lightning, attended with gusts of Heavy wind and very little rain, succeeded by a violent gale of several hours from the S.W., in which we were near perishing. On this occasion the master and the gunner succeeded each other at the helm, and by their experience and judgment in the manage- Abie ment of the boat, we were this night enabled to traverse in safety on ocean of such fierce and tremendous seas, in different directions, as we could scarcely allow ourselves the hope of escaping. At daybreak the guimer, who was then at the helm, discovered a ship at a little distance from us la3dng under her bare poles, a ship. Our joy at this sight was great beyond expression, and, anxious to secure so favourable an occasion, we immediately made more Bail, and between five and six o'clock passed close under her, and