Saturday 9.

In the morning a quarter of a pint of coconut milk and some of the decayed bread was served for breakfast, and for dinner I divided the meat of four coconuts with the remainder of the rotten bread, which was only eatable by such distressed people.

At noon I observed the latitude to be 15 degrees 47 minutes south; course since yesterday north 75 degrees west distance 64 miles; longitude made by account 8 degrees 45 minutes west.

In the afternoon I fitted a pair of shrouds for each mast, and contrived a canvas weather cloth round the boat, and raised the quarters about nine inches by nailing on the seats of the stern sheets, which proved of great benefit to us.

The wind had been moderate all day in the south-east quarter with fine weather; but about nine o’clock in the evening the clouds began to gather, and we had a prodigious fall of rain with severe thunder and lightning.  By midnight we caught about twenty gallons of water.  Being miserably wet and cold I served to the people a teaspoonful of rum each to enable them to bear with their distressed situation.  The weather continued extremely bad and the wind increased; we spent a very miserable night without sleep except such as could be got in the midst of rain.  The day brought no relief but its light.  The sea broke over us so much that two men were constantly baling; and we had no choice how to steer, being obliged to keep before the waves for fear of the boat filling.

The allowance now regularly served to each person was one 25th of a pound of bread and a quarter of a pint of water, at eight in the morning, at noon, and at sunset.  Today I gave about half an ounce of pork for dinner which, though any moderate person would have considered only as a mouthful, was divided into three or four.

The rain abated towards noon and I observed the latitude to be 15 degrees 17 minutes south; course north 67 degrees west distance 78 miles; longitude made 10 degrees west.

The wind continued strong from south-south-east to south-east with very squally weather and a high breaking sea, so that we were miserably wet and suffered great cold in the night.

Monday 11.

In the morning at daybreak I served to every person a teaspoonful of rum, our limbs being so cramped that we could scarce move them.  Our situation was now extremely dangerous, the sea frequently running over our stern, which kept us baling with all our strength.

At noon the sun appeared, which gave us as much pleasure as in a winter’s day in England.  I issued the 25th of a pound of bread and a quarter of a pint of water, as yesterday.  Latitude observed 14 degrees 50 minutes south; course north 71 degrees west distance 102 miles; and longitude by account 11 degrees 39 minutes west from Tofoa.

In the evening it rained hard and we again experienced a dreadful night.

Tuesday 12.

At length the day came and showed to me a miserable set of beings, full of wants, without anything to relieve them.  Some complained of great pain in their bowels, and everyone of having almost lost the use of his limbs.  The little sleep we got was no ways refreshing as we were covered with sea and rain.  I served a spoonful of rum at day-dawn, and the usual allowance of bread and water for breakfast, dinner, and supper.