Friday the 11th, at three this morning the boat struck upon the tide of ebb, it ebbing so fast we could not get her off, in a quarter of an hour's time the boat was dry; we were favoured with little wind and smooth water, otherwise she must have stove to pieces, the ground being very foul; it ebbs dry above a league off, and there is shoal water a great deal further out, so that it is dangerous for a ship to haul into this bay. While the boat was dry got all the water casks out of the hold, and put them ashore to be filled. At six hauled the boat off, having received no damage; at eight, it being four feet flood, run the boat close in shore and took off our water, the whole quantity being four tons, out of which we were obliged to leave two puncheons, one quarter-cask, with three muskets, a funnel, and some other necessaries, and were very much concerned lest we should also leave some of the people ashore. The wind blowing hard, and the sea tumbling in, we were under a necessity of hauling off and putting to sea, for fear of losing the boat. Since we left the island where the Wager was lost, we have several times very narrowly escaped being made a wreck, and sometimes have been preserved when we have seen our fate before our eyes, and every moment expected it, and when all the conduct and ability of men could have availed nothing. Any one who has been a witness of those providential deliverances, and doubts the being of a Supreme Power, disqualifies himself from any title to all future mercy, and justly deserves the wrath of an incensed Deity. This day, at noon, being well out of the bay, and nigh mid-channel over, steered E.N.E. for Cape Virgin Mary, with a fine gale at S.W. At one we saw the cape bearing N.E, by E. distant nine leagues; at seven in the evening saw a low point of flat land, stretching away from the cape S.S.E. two leagues; at eight little or no wind, steered E. by S. at twelve at night doubled the point, the wind at W. right in the middle of the bay, where we filled the water; in land lie two peaks, exactly like ass's ears. We would advise all vessels from hauling into this bay, it being shoal water and foul ground. As for every other part of the Straights of Magellan, from Cape Victory to Cape Virgin Mary, we recommend Sir John Narborough, who in his account is so just and exact, that we think it is impossible for any man living to mend his works. We have been a month in those Streights, from our first sight of Cape Pillar to Cape Virgin Mary. The whole length of the Streights, the reaches and turnings included, is reckoned one hundred and sixteen leagues.
Saturday the 12th, little wind, and fair weather. At one this morning steered N. by W. At four the wind came to N.W. Tacked and stood to the westward; the two points stretching off from the cape bore N.W. by W. distant two leagues. At noon, the wind being at N.E. steering along shore from the cape, saw on the shore three men, on mules or horses, riding towards us; when they came abreast of us, they stopped and made signals, waving their hats, as though they wanted to speak with us; at which we edged close to the shore, where we saw to the number of twenty; five of them rode abreast, the others were on foot, having a large store of cattle with them. On sight of this, we anchored within a mile of the shore. The cape bore W.S.W. distant seven leagues, the swell tumbling in from the sea, would not permit us to speak with'em, by their motions, actions, cloathing, and by their whole behaviour, we took them for Christians: It being a plain level land, they rode backwards and forwards like racers, waving white handkerchiefs, and making signs for us going into a bay, which lay about a league to the northward, which we designed to do on the tide of ebb. The flood being very strong against us, they waited on the shore till the tide was spent; we weighed and stood to northward, the wind blowing right in from sea, and a great swell, we could not clear the land, so that we wore and stood to the southward, and very narrowly escaped clearing the breakers off the pitch of the cape, which lay about two leagues out at sea to the southward. At nine at night the cape bore W. distant six leagues; stood out to sea till eleven o'clock, then wore and stood in, the wind shifting to N.N.E. The next morning we steered in for the bay, and saw those people again; but the wind soon afterwards veering to the westward, and blowing strong, we were obliged to bear away: We could not by any means come to the knowledge of these people; whether they are unfortunate creatures that have been cast away, or whether they are inhabitants about the river Gallegoes, we can't tell.
Tuesday the 15th, fresh gales and fair weather. This morning saw the land; the southmost point bore W.S.W., the northmost point N.N.E. At eight saw two ledges of rocks, running two leagues out from a point of land which makes like an old castle. At noon the extremes of the land bore W. by N. distant three leagues, had a good observation, latitude 49: 10 S. Course made this twenty-four hours is N. by E. half E. distant 104 miles, longitude in 74: 05 W.
Wednesday, the 16th, at noon abreast of Penguin island, not above half a mile from shore. We saw on this island seals and penguins without number, the shore being entirely covered with them. We find the penguin exactly to answer Sir John Narborough's description; therefore we beg leave to give it the reader in that excellent navigator's own words: "The penguin is a fowl that lives by catching and eating fish, which he dives for, and is very nimble in the water; he is as big as a brant goose, and weighs near about eight pounds; they have no wings, but flat stumps like fins; their coat is a downy stumped feather; they are blackish grey on the backs and heads, and white about their necks and down their bellies; they are short-legged like a goose, and stand upright like little children in white aprons, in companies together; they are full-necked, and headed and beaked like a crow, only the point of their bill turns down a little; they will bite hard, but they are very tame, and will drive in herds to your boat-side like sheep, and there you may knock'em on the head, all one after another; they will not make any great haste away." We steered N.W. by N. for the harbour of Port Desire: The going into this harbour is very remarkable; on the south side lies, one mile in the land, an high peaked-tip rock, much like a tower, looking as though it was a work of art set up for a land-mark to steer into this harbour; this rock is forty feet high. At five o'clock got into the harbour, run up to Seal Island, which lieth about a league up; here we killed more seal in half an hour than we could carry off, being obliged to leave the greatest part of what we killed behind. The people eating greedily of the seal, were seized with violent fevers and pains in their heads. While we were at Port Desire we had seal and fowl in abundance. The carpenter found here a parcel of bricks, some of'em with letters cut in them, on one of those bricks these words were very plain and legible, viz. Capt. Straiton, 16 Cannons, 1687. Those we imagine have been laid here from a wreck. The carpenter with six men went in search of water, a mile up the water's side; they found Peckett's well, mention'd in Sir John Narborough's book; the spring is so small, that it doth not give above thirty gallons per day, but the well being full, supplied us. The people grow very turbulent and uneasy, requiring flour to be served out; which, in our present circumstance, is a most unreasonable request; we have but one cask of flour on board, and a great distance to run into the Brazil, and no other provision in the boat but the seal we have killed here: Nay, they carry their demands much higher, insisting that the marine officers, and such people as cannot be assisting in working the boat, shall have but half the allowance of the rest; accordingly they have pitched upon twenty to be served half a pound of flour each man, and themselves a pound. This distinction the half-pounders complain of, and that twenty are selected to be starved. While we were at Port Desire, one day dressing our victuals, we set fire to the grass; instantly the flames spread, and immediately we saw the whole country in a conflagration, and the next day, from the watering-place, we saw the smoke at a distance, so that then the fire was not extinguished.
Friday the 25th, little wind, and fair weather; went up to our slaughter- house in Seal island, and took on board our sea-store, which we completed in half an hour's time; turned down the harbour with the tide of ebb, in the evening, the wind at N.E. could make no hand of it, so bore away for the harbour again, and came to an anchor.
Saturday the 26th, at three in the morning, sailed out of Port Desire harbour; steered out E.N.E. At six Penguin island bore S. by E. distant six leagues, and Cape Blanco N.W. by N. four leagues. This day I took my departure from Cape Blanco; I judge the cape to lie in the longitude of 71: 00 W. from the meridian of London.
Monday the 28th, moderate gales, and fair. This day served out all the flour in the boat, at three pound and a half to each man. We have now nothing to live on but seal, and what Providence throws in our way.
Friday, January the 1st, 1741-2, fresh gales and fair weather, with a great sea. At ten last night shifting the man at the helm, brought her by the lee, broke the boom; and lost a seaman overboard. The greatest part of our seal taken in at Port Desire, for want of salt to cure it there, now stinks very much; but having nothing else we are obliged to eat it. We are now miserable beyond description, having nothing to feed on ourselves, and at the same time almost eaten up with vermin.
Wednesday the 6th, departed this life Mr Thomas Harvey, the purser; he died a skeleton for want of food: This gentleman probably was the first purser belonging to his majesty's service that ever perished with hunger. We see daily a great number of whales.
Sunday the 10th, this day at noon, in working the bearings, and distant to Cape St Andrew, do find myself not above thirteen leagues distant from the land, therefore hauled in N.W. to make it before night. We saw to-day abundance of insects, particularly butterflies and horse-stingers. We have nothing to eat but some stinking seal, and not above twenty out of the forty-three which are now alive have even that, and such hath been our condition for this week past; nor are we better off in regard to water, there not being above eighty gallons on board: Never were beheld a parcel of more miserable objects, there are not above fifteen of us healthy, (if people may be called healthy that are scarce able to crawl). I am reckoned at present one of the strongest men in the boat, yet can hardly stand on my legs ten minutes together, nor even that short space of time without holding: Every man of us hath had a new coat of skin from head to foot: We that are in the best state of health do all we can to encourage the rest. At four this afternoon, we were almost transported with joy at the sight of land, (having seen no land for fourteen days before) the extremes of which bore N.W. about seven leagues; we ran in with it, and at eight anchored in eight fathom; fine sand about a league from the shore; the northmost point bore about N.E., the southmost point about S.W. by S. This day perished for want of food, serjeant Ringall.