Saturday, 16th.—­The sun breaking out through the clouds gave us hopes of drying our wet clothes; but the sunshine was of short duration.  We had strong breezes at south-east by south, and dark gloomy weather, with storms of thunder, lightning, and rain.  The night was truly horrible, and not a star to be seen, so that our steerage was uncertain.

Sunday, 17th.—­At dawn of day I found every person complaining, and some of them solicited extra allowance, which I positively refused.  Our situation was miserable; always wet, and suffering extreme cold during the night, without the least shelter from the weather.  Being constantly obliged to bail, to keep the boat from filling, was perhaps not to be reckoned an evil as it gave us exercise.

The little rum we had was of great service.  When our nights were particularly distressing, I generally served a teaspoonful or two to each person; and it was always joyful tidings when they heard of my intentions.

The night was dark and dismal, the sea constantly breaking over us, and nothing but the wind and waves to direct our steerage.  It was my intention, if possible, to make to New Holland, to the southwest of Endeavor Straits, being sensible that it was necessary to preserve such a situation as would make a southerly wind a fair one; that we might range along the reefs till an opening should be found into smooth water, and we the sooner be able to pick up some refreshments.

Monday and Tuesday were terrible days, heavy rain with lightning.  We were always bailing.  On Wednesday the 20th, at dawn of day, some of my people seemed half dead.  Our appearance was horrible, and I could look no way but I caught the eye of some one in distress.  Extreme hunger was now too evident; but no one suffered from thirst, nor had we much inclination to drink—­that desire, perhaps, being satisfied through the skin.  The little sleep we got was in the midst of water, and we constantly awoke with severe cramps and pains in our bones.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we were in the same distressed condition, and I began to fear that such another night or two would put an end to us.  On Saturday, however, the wind moderated in the evening, and the weather looked much better, which rejoiced all hands, so that they ate their scanty allowance with more satisfaction than for some time past.  The night also was fair; but being always wet with the sea, we suffered much from the cold.

Sunday, 24th.—­A fine morning, I had the pleasure to see produce some cheerful countenances; and the first time, for fifteen days past, we experienced comfort from the warmth of the sun.  We stripped, and hung our clothes up to dry, which were by this time become so threadbare, that they would not keep out either wet or cold.