Sunday, 6th.—First and Latter part squally, with heavy Showers of rain; middle moderate and fair. I now determined to put into Rio de Janeiro in preferance to any other port in Brazil or Falkland Islands, for at this place I knew we could recruit our Stock of Provisions, several Articles of which I found we should in time be in want of, and at the same time procure Live Stock and refreshment for the People; and from the reception former Ships had met with here I doubted not but we should be well received. Wind N.N.E., variable, S.; course S. 55° W.; distance 74 m.; lat. 19° 3′ S., long. 35° 50′ W.
Monday, 7th—Moderate breezes and Clear weather. P.M. found the Variation to be 4° 49′ E. At 6 Sounded and had 32 fathoms Water; the Bottom Coral Rocks, fine Sand and Shells, which Soundings we carried upon a S.W. ½ W. Course 9 or 10 leagues, and then had no ground with 100 fathom. We were by our account and per run afterwards 54 Leagues East from the Coast of Brazil and to the Southward of the Shoals called Abrollos, as they are laid down in Most Charts. Wind S.E. to N.E.; course S. 58° W.; distance 68 m.; lat. 19° 46′ S., long. 36° 50′ W.
Tuesday, 8th.—Fresh breezes and Cloudy weather. P.M. variation by the Mean of 12 Azimuths 5° 26′ E., and by an Amplitude in the Morning 7° 52′. At 6 a.m. saw the Land of Brazil bearing N.W. ½ N., distance 8 or 10 leagues. At 8 Sounded, had 37 fathoms, Coarse Sand, broken Shells, and Coral Rocks. At 9 brought too and Spoke with a Fishing Boat, who informed us that the land in sight lay to the Southward of Santo Espiritu. It appears high and Mountainous; the drawing No. (3) exhibits a View of this Land as it appeared from the Ship (A), being near to Santo Espiritu, and a remarkable hill (B) bore N.W. ½ N., distance 7 or 8 leagues. Made Sail in Shore, the wind being Southerly. Had from the above Depth to 14 fathoms the same sort of Bottom. Found the Ship at Noon by Observation 10 Miles to the Southward of account, which I suppose to be occasioned by a Current setting between the S. and W. Wind N.N.E., N. by W., S.S.W. to S. by W.; course S. 50° W.; distance 140 m.; lat 21° 16′ S., long. 37° 35′ W.
Wednesday, 9th.—First and Latter part Hazey, with a Moderate Breeze; Middle, fresh Gales, with Thunder, Lightning, and rain. At 3 p.m. tack't in 16 fathoms, distance from the Shore 5 Leagues, the land Extending from the N.W. by W. to N.E. At 5 took the 2nd Reef in the Topsails and got down Topgallant Yards, stood to the S.E. until Midnight, then tack'd, Sounding from 16 to 55 fathoms. At 8 a.m. Loosed the Reefs out of the Topsails and got Topgallant Yards a Cross; unstowed the Anchors and bent the Cables. At Noon Latitude Observed 21° 29′ S., the Land Extending from S.W. by S. to N.N.W., distance 4 leagues, Soundings from
