towards the ſouth-eaſt end of the iſland; ſo that, in favourable weather, veſſels might eaſily put in at that part of the coaſt. We obſerved ſeveral rivulets, which, after winding with a ſerpentine courſe amongſt the hills, diſcharged themſelves into the ſea.
We were ſtill very near to the iſland when the night came on. The land then appeared as if covered with a ſheet of fire, whilſt the illuminated ſmoke gave that vivid appearance to the ſky which generally portends a hurricane.
The iſle of St. Paul is about 10,000 toiſes in circumference, and ſituated in about 37° 56′ S, lat. and 75° 2′ E. lon.
The variation of the magnetic needle was here 17½° W.
During the continuance of the gales from N.W. and S.W. the mercury of the barometer gradually fell eight lines. On the firſt of April, it was ſtationary at 27 inches 7 lines, when the gale was ſo ſtrong, that we went at the rate of ten knots with the fore and main top-ſails ſet. We never ran ſo faſt as on this day, in the whole courſe of our voyage. We were now already in 40½° S. lat. Lon. 85° E.
Hitherto we had flattered ourſelves that no fraud had been practiſed upon us, at leaſt with
reſpect
