Page 544
An.1691
Their Passage to Santa Hellena.
the Ship made: neither was it an easie matter to reduce them again within bounds. The Guns, being carefully look'd after and lash'd fast, never budg d, but the Tackles or Pulleys, and Lashings, made great Musick too. The sudden and violent motion of the Ship, made us fearful left some of the Guns should have broken loose, which must have been very detrimental to the Ships sides. The Masts were also in great danger to be rowl'd by the board: but no harm hapned to any of us besides the loss of 3 or 4 Butts of Water, and a Barrel or 2 of good Cape Wine, which was staved in the great Cabbin.
This great Tumbling Sea, took us shortly after we came from the Cape. The violence of it lasted but one Night: yet we had a continual fwel- ling came out of the S. W. almost during all the passage to Santa Hellena : which was an eminent token that the S. W. Winds were now violent in the higher latitudes towards the South Pole ; for this was the time of the year for those Winds. Notwithstanding this boifterous Sea coming thus obliquely upon us, we had fine clear weather, and a moderate gale at S. E. or between that and the East, till we came to the Island Santa Hellena, where we arrived the 20th day of June. There we found the Princess Ann at an Anchor, waiting for us.
The Island Santa Hellena lies in about 16 De- grees South lat. The Air is commonly ferene and clear, except in the months that yield Rain ; yet we had one or two very rainy days, even while we were here. Here are moist seasons to plant and sow, and the weather is temperate enough as to heat, tho so near the Equator, and very healthy.
The Island is but small, not above nine or ten leagues in length, and stands 3 or 400 leagues from