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.
Wednesday the 18th, the wind at W.N.W. in hard squalls, with hail and snow. This morning cast loose, and stood over to the southward, believing the tide to run stronger and more true than on the north-shore, hoping shortly to get out of the sound, which is not above a league in the wind's eye. At two o'clock got into a cove on the south side, made fast along side of the rocks; all hands on shore getting muscles and other fish.
Thursday the 19th, fresh gales W.N.W. with hail and snow. This morning cast loose, and sail'd out, but could make no hand of it, our boat will not work to windward; put back from whence we came, and sent the people ashore to get muscles. This night departed this life Mr Thomas Caple, son of the late Lieutenant Caple, aged twelve years, who perish'd for want of food. There was a person on board who had some of the youth's money, upwards of twenty guineas, with a watch and silver cup. Those last the boy was willing to sell for flour; but his guardian told him, he would buy cloaths for him in the Brazil. The miserable youth cry'd, Sir, I shall never live to see the Brazil, I am starving now, almost starv'd to death, therefore, for God's sake, give me my silver cup to get me some victuals or buy some for me yourself. All his prayers and intreaties to him were vain, but heaven sent death to his relief, and put a period to his miseries in an instant. Persons who have not experienc'd the hardships we have met with, will wonder how people can be so inhuman to see their fellow-creatures starving before their faces, and afford 'em no relief: But hunger is void of all compassion; every person was so intent on the preservation of his own life, that he was regardless of another's, and the bowels of commiseration were shut up. We slip no opportunity, day or night, to enter into the suppos'd right Streights, but can get no ground. This day we serv'd flour and a piece of beef between two men for a week. Captain P----n, of his majesty's land forces, gave two guineas for two pounds of flour; this flour was sold him by the seamen, who live on muscles. Many of the people eat their flour raw as soon as they are serv'd it. The wind and weather not permitting us to go out, the men were employ'd in getting wood and water.
Tuesday the 24th, this morning it being calm, row'd out, at eight o'clock had the supposed right Streights open, having a breeze at W.N.W. S.E. by E. through the first reach, and S.S.E. through the second, then saw three islands, the largest of which lies on the north-shore, and there is a passage about two miles broad between that and the islands to the southward; there is also another passage between that island and the north- shore, of a mile and a half broad. Before you come to those islands there is a sound lying on the south-shore: You can see no passage until you come close up with the island, and then the imaginary Streights are not above two miles broad. Steer'd away for the island S.E. about two leagues, then came into a narrow passage, not above a cable's length over, which put us all to a stand, doubting of any farther passage. The wind took us a-head, and the tide being spent we put into a small cove, and made fast. At seven in the evening, being calm, cast loose, being willing to see if there was any opening, but to our great misfortune, found none, which very much surpriz'd us. The lieutenant is of opinion, that we are in a lagoon to the northward of the Streights. This I cannot believe, and am positive, if ever there was such a place in the world as the Streights of Magellan, we are now in them, and above thirty leagues up. If he or any of the officers had given themselves the trouble of coming upon deck, to have made proper remarks, we had been free from all this perplexity, and by this time out of the Streights to the northward. There is not an officer aboard, except the carpenter and myself, will keep the deck a moment longer than his watch, or has any regard to a reckoning, or any thing else. It is agreed to go back again.
Wednesday the 25th, little wind with rain. At eight this morning row'd out, and got about a league down; here we could get no ground, and were obliged to put back again.
Thursday the 26th, little wind; row'd out, got about five leagues down. This day we were in such want of provisions, that we were forced to cut up the seal skin and broil it, notwithstanding it has lain about the deck for this fortnight.
Friday the 27th, little wind and close weather. This morning cast loose and row'd down, had a fresh breeze at north, steer'd W.S.W. into another opening on the south-shore, hoping to find a passage out of the lagoon, as the lieutenant calls it, into the right Streights. After going two leagues up saw there was no opening, put back and made fast where we came from, being determined to go back and make Cape Pillar a second time, which is the south entrance of the Streights. Got abundance of large muscles, five or six inches long, a very great relief to us at present.
Sunday the 29th, hard gales from N.W. to S.W. with heavy rains. Great uneasiness among the people, many of them despairing of a deliverance, and crying aloud to serve provisions four days before the time. Finding no way to pacify them, we were obliged to serve them. We endeavoured to encourage and comfort them as much as lay in our power, and at length they seemed tolerably easy.
Monday the 30th, fresh gales at W. with continual rain. This day died three of our people, viz. Peter Delroy, barber, Thomas Thorpe and Thomas Woodhead, marines, they all perish'd for want of food: Several more are in the same way, being not able to go ashore for provisions, and those who are well cannot get sufficient for themselves, therefore the sick are left destitute of all relief. There is one thing to be taken notice of in the death of those people, that some hours before they die they are taken lightheaded, and fall a joking and laughing, and in this humour they expire.
Tuesday, December the 1st, 1741, little wind, and fair weather, which is a kind of prodigy in those parts. In the morning put out of the cove, and got four leagues down; then the wind took us a-head, and we put into another cove where we got muscles and limpets. At four this afternoon saw an Indian canoe coming over from the north-shore; they landed two of their men to the leeward of the cove, they came opposite to us, and viewed us, then went back, and came with the canoe within a cable's length of our boat, but no nearer, so that we had no opportunity to truck with them.