Monday, 4th.—In the P.M. had a moderate breeze, which continued until 5 o'clock in the A.M., when it fell calm, and soon after a breeze sprung up at S.W. In the Evening, and most part of the Night, the weather was dark and cloudy, with much Lightning to the Westward. Variation 25° 35′ W. Winds N.E. to S.W.; course S. 67° 45′ W.; distance 87 m.; lat. 31° 54′ S.; long. 324° 36′ W.
Tuesday, 5th.—Fresh Gales from the S.S.W., with squally, rainy weather, with which we stood to the Westward. In the evening some people thought they saw the appearance of land to the Northward; but this appear'd so improbable that I, who was not on deck at this time, was not acquainted with it until dark, when I order'd them to sound, but found no ground with 80 fathoms, upon which we concluded that no land was near. But daylight in the Morning proved this to be a mistake by shewing us the land at the distance of about 2 Leagues off. We had now the wind at S.E., blowing fresh right upon the land. When we made the land we were standing to the Westward; but, thinking the other the best tack to get off on, we wore, and hauld off to the Eastward, and by Noon had got an Offing of about 4 Leagues, the land at this time extending from N.E. by N. to W.S.W. This.part of the Coast of Africa which we fell in with lies in about the Latitude of 32° 0′ S., and Longitude 331° 29′ W., and near to what is called in the Charts Point Nattall.[1] It was a steep, craggy point, very much broke, and looked as if the high, craggy rocks were Islands. To the N.E. of this point the land in General appear'd to rise, sloping from the Sea to a Moderate height; the Shore, alternately Rocks and Sands. About 2 Leagues to the N.E. of the Point appear'd to be the mouth of a River, which probably may be that of St. Johns. At this time the weather was very hazey, so that we had but a very imperfect view of the land, which did not appear to great advantage. Wind S.S.W. to S.E.; course per Log N. 31° W.; distance 32 m.; lat. 31° 5′ S. per Observation, 31° 7′ per Reckoning; long. 331° 19′ per Observation, 324° 56′ per Reckoning.
Wednesday, 6th.—Moderate Gales, with hazey, rainy weather. Stood to the Eastward all the day, having the land in sight, which at 4 p.m. extended from N.E. by N. to S.W. by W., distant 5 Leagues. At 6 in the Morning we could only see it at W. distant 7 or 8 Leagues. At Noon found the Ship by Observation 90 Miles to the Southward of account. Thus far the current has carried us to the S. since the last observation, which was only 2 days ago; but it is plain, from the position of the Coast, that we have been carried full as far to the W. also, notwithstanding we have been standing all the time to the E.N.E.[2] Wind Southerly;
