Friday the 13th, very uncertain weather, and squally, the wind variable from W.N.W. to S.S.W.  This morning all hands ashore a-fishing.  Lieutenant E——­rs of the marines kill’d a large seal or sea-dog, it is exceeding good food, and we judg’d it to have weigh’d seventeen score.

Saturday the 14th, little wind at W.N.W. and close weather, with rain.  At five this morning cast loose, and steer’d south out between the islands, the weather clearing up, we saw the south shore:  It first appear’d like a large island, stretching away to the westward, and at the west end two hammacoes like sugar-loaves, and to the southward of them a large point of rocks, steer’d S.E. until the point bore W. then steer’d S.E. by E. I took the point for Cape Pillar, and was fully assur’d of our being in the Streights.

Sunday the 15th, at three this morning cast loose, and row’d, but could not get out, so were oblig’d to put back, and make fast, it blowing hard, with thick weather all day, in the evening it clear’d up.  This day several people drove a trade with their allowance, giving silver buckles for flour, valued at twelve shillings per pound, and before night it reach’d to a guinea, the people crying aloud for provisions, which are now so scarce, that several on board are actually starving thro’ want.

Monday the 16th, at three this morning cast loose, being little wind, and steer’d up the Streights S.E. by E. the wind at N.W.  At eight o’clock got a-breast of Cape Munday, at nine the cape bore W. distant four leagues, at noon running along shore, made two openings, which put the rest of the officers to a stand, not knowing which to take for their right passage.  Asking my opinion, I gave it for keeping on the E.S.E. passage, the other lying S.E. by S. On which they said, Sir John Narborough bids us keep the south shore on board.  I answer’d, that Sir John tells us E.S.E. is the direct course from Cape Pillar:  I’ll venture my life that we are now in the right passage; so we kept on E. by S. half S. After running a league or two up, and not seeing Cape Quod, nor any outlet, the wind blowing hard, we were for running no farther, whereas one league more would have convinc’d every body, but they all gave against me, that we were not in the right passage:  The wind being at W.N.W. we could not turn back again; so that we were oblig’d to put into a cove lying on the north shore, where we found good anchoring in four fathom water:  No provisions to be got here, being a barren rocky place, producing not any thing for the preservation of life.  This afternoon died George Bateman, a boy, aged sixteen years:  This poor creature starv’d, perish’d, and died a skeleton, for want of food.  There are several more in the same miserable condition, and who, without a speedy relief, must undergo the same fate.

Tuesday the 17th, at five this morning, weigh’d, and row’d out, it being calm; at seven a fresh breeze right up the sound, we could not turn to windward not above a mile from where we last lay, we made fast along-side the rocks; all hands ashore a-fishing for muscles, limpets, and clams; here we found those shell-fish in abundance, which prov’d a very seasonable relief.  Just before we got in, one of the men gave a guinea for a pound of flour, being all the money he had.