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320 JOHN BOIT

29. N. Latt. 53 1'; W. Long. 131 41'. Came on a hard gale of wind, and although we kept firing Cannon through the night the Sloop parted from us, as 't was very thick in the morning. The leaks rather increas'd, and our feelings was not the most agreeable on the occasion. 153

OFF QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLES (SOUTH PART)

30. N. Latt. 51 57'; W. Long. 131 10'. This day see the Queen Charlotte Isles, stood in pretty close to the South pt. and fother'd the Ship with a topsail which we had pre- viously prepared for that purpose. This, fortunately for us, stop'd the leak one half.

July 1. N. Latt. 51 48'. Close in off the South pt. of Queen Charlotte Isles from which lay many detach'd Rocks. We pass'd the pt. within two or three miles and left many breakers without us in the Offing. We wish to get into Barrells sound.

2. N. Latt. 51 49'; W. Long. 130 30'. Saw the entrance of Barrells sound, bearing NW., the wind direct in our teeth. Employ'd turning to windwards, with all the Elements against us. Crew all in brave health.

3. Employ'd beating to windward through the night, in the morning spoke the Ship Margaret, James Magee, Master. Capt. Gray went on board the Margaret, and found Capt. Magee very sick. 154 This ship stopt a few days at the Cape De Verds, and made her passage in 6 months. They had not

153 Evidently the gale was from the northwest, as it drove the ship about sixty miles southward and about thirty eastward. Has well was informed at two o'clock in the morning by the officer of the watch that the ship had suddenly disappeared and he feared she had foundered. He immediately sailed the Adven- ture back to the spot where the Columbia had last been seen; but he searched for her in vain. Haswell loitered in the vicinity for another twenty-four hours, but seeing nothing of the missing ship, concluded that she had surely foundered. On 2ist August, while at Cox Strait (Parry Passage), he learned from Ingraham,

in the Adventure, had been instructed, as he was leading, to tack at twelve o'clock. The two vessels got into a race as to which could go longest and fastest by the wind. Haswell, nevertheless, tacked at midnight, but the Columbia's men, irritated that the sloop should tack before the ship, continued on their course without tacking until one o'clock. Of course, in that hour the vessels drew steadily apart; ultimately the Columbia was no longer seen; then arose the hue and cry that the ship had foundered.

1 54 The Margaret was owned by the same people as the Hope. Ingraham met her about a month later near Nootka Sound, when Mr. Lamb, the chief officer, came aboard to report to him that Captain Magee was very ill. Later Ingraham states that Captain Magee was so ill that it was agreed that he should return to China in the Hope as a passenger.