Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/360



348 JOHN BOIT

Bread. This was quite a seasonable Supply, as we had been eating maggotty bread for this some time.

5. N. Lat. 25 33' ; W. Long. 56 13'. Spoke two Sloops from Portland for Guadal [oupe].

8. N. Lat. 28 16'; W. Long. 59 35'; Variation 1 28' E. O <T. This day the NE. trade wind left us, took it from the Southward.

18. N. Lat. 40 17'; W. Long. 65 15'; Variation 14 55' W. O <T * <T. Spoke the Brig Betsey from New York, Wm. Williams Master, bound to Amsterdam. Have experienc'd much blowing weather from the North and West since leaving the Trades, and generally squalls of rain. Ship's Crew are all in health, but anxious to get home, as the Ship's provisions have grown quite bad and but little of it left.

20. N. Lat. 40 23'; W. Long. 67 51'; Azi. & Amp'd 12 17' W. Winds from the Northward.

21. N. Lat. 40 29'; W. Long. 68 35'; Azi. 7 16' W. Dull times for men in a hurry. The Columbia is in fine order, having given the rigging a complete overhaul since leaving St. Helena. Rounded to and got soundings 67 fm. fine black and white sand.

22. N. Lat. 42 11'; W. Long. 68 45'. At Sunset sounded, in 38 fm. gray sand. Spoke a Sloop from Newbury port, bound to the West Indies, told us Cape Cod bore NW. 30 leagues. At Midnight shoald our water pretty sudden, from 20 to 15, 12, 10 and 8 fm., fine white sand on Georges Shoal; hauld to the East and soon deep'd it again to 30 fm. At Noon Latt. as above, soundings in 40 fathom. Wind from the WSW. Hard luck.

24. Lower'd the yawl and sent her on board a fishing Schooner in sight to the west'd, it being nearly calm. At Sunset the boat return'd and Officer reported that the Skipper of the Schooner cou'd not spare any salt provisions, but sold us 3 Bar'l Salt Mackarell and about 300 Ship Biscuit. These last were very grateful. Divided them fore and aft among the Crew. A breeze sprang up from the Eastward pt., all sail, and at daylight saw Cape Cod bearing SW. at 6 leagues, and the Gurnett WBS, the land abreast us on the South Shore, 4