On the 9th at nine o’clock in the morning the weather became squally and a body of thick black clouds collected in the east.  Soon after a water-spout was seen at no great distance from us, which appeared to great advantage from the darkness of the clouds behind it.  As nearly as I could judge it was about two feet diameter at the upper part, and about eight inches at the lower.  I had scarce made these remarks when I observed that it was advancing rapidly towards the ship.  We immediately altered our course and took in all the sails except the foresail, soon after which it passed within ten yards of our stern, making a rustling noise but without our feeling the least effect from its being so near us.  The rate at which it travelled I judged to be about ten miles per hour going towards the west in the direction of the wind.  In a quarter of an hour after passing us it dispersed.  I never was so near a water-spout before:  the connection between the column, which was higher than our mastheads, and the water below was no otherwise visible than by the sea being disturbed in a circular space of about six yards in diameter, the centre of which, from the whirling of the water round it, formed a hollow; and from the outer part of the circle the water was thrown up with much force in a spiral direction, and could be traced to the height of fifteen or twenty feet.  At this elevation we lost sight of it and could see nothing of its junction with the column above.  It is impossible to say what injury we should have suffered if it had passed directly over us.  Masts I imagine might have been carried away, but I do not apprehend it would have endangered the loss of a ship.

Saturday 11.

As we sailed very near the track made in former voyages I had little reason to expect that we should at this time make any new discovery:  nevertheless on the 11th at daylight land was seen to the south-south-west at about five leagues distance, which appeared to be an island of a moderate height.  On the north part was a round hill:  the north-west part was highest and steep:  the south-east part sloped off to a low point.

The wind had been westerly since the preceding noon, and at the time we saw the land the ship was standing to the north-west.  At six we tacked to the southward, and as we advanced in that direction discovered a number of low keys, of which at noon we counted nine:  they were all covered with trees.  The large island first seen had a most fruitful appearance, its shore being bordered with flat land, on which grew innumerable coconut and other trees; and the higher grounds beautifully interspersed with lawns.  The wind being light and unfavourable we endeavoured all day but without success to get near the land.  In the night we had a heavy squall which obliged us to clew up all our sails and soon after it fell calm.

Sunday 12.