Page 83
An.1684
They meet Captain Eaton in the S. Seas.
Wards, till we got into the South Seas: therefore I know not whether the variation increafed any more or no. Indeed I had an obfervation of the Sun at noon, in lat. 59 deg. 30 min. and we were then ftanding to the Southward, with the Wind at W. by N. and that night the Wind came about more to the Southward of the Weft, and we tackt. I was then in lat. 60 by reckoning, which was the fartheft South latitude that ever I was in.
The 14th day of February, being in lat. 57. and to the Weft of Cape Horne, we had a violent Storm, which held us till the third day of March, blowing commonly at S. W. and S. W. by W. and W. S. W. thick weather all the time, with fmall drizzling Rain, but not hard. We made a shift however to fave 23 Barrels of Rain-water, befides what we dreft our Victuals withal.
March the third the Wind fhifted at once, and came about at South, blowing a fierce gale of Wind: foon after it came about to the Eaftward, and we ftood into the South Seas.
The 9th day having an obfervation of the Sun, not having feen it of late, we found our felves in lat. 47 d. 10 m. and the variation to be but 15 d. 30 m. Eaft.
The Wind ftood at S. E. we had fair weather and a moderate gale ; and the 17th day we were in lat. 36 by obfervation, and then found the variation to be but 8 degrees Eaft.
The 19th day when we looked out in the morn- ing we faw a Ship to the Southward of us, coming with all the Sail fhe could make after us: we lay muzled to let her come up with us, for we fuppofed her to be a Spanifh Ship come from Baldivia bound to Lima: we being now to the Northward of Baldivia, and this being the time of the year when Ships that trade thence to Baldivia return home. They had the fame opinion of us, and therefore made fure to take