Sept. 30, 1726
It began with us about eleven last night, and continued till near two this
morning, darkening her body about six digits, or one half; the middle of it
being about half an hour after twelve, by which we may discover that we are m a
meridian of about four hours and half from London, or 67 1/2 degrees of
Longitude, and consequently have not much above one hundred leagues to run. This
is the second eclipse we have had within these fifteen days. We lost our consort
in the night, but saw him again this morning nearly two leagues to the windward.
This afternoon we spoke with him again. We have had abundance of dolphins about
us these three or four days; but we have not taken any more than one, they being
shy of the bait. I took in some more gulf-weed to-day with the boat-hook with
shells upon it like that before mentioned, and three living perfect crabs, each
less than the nail of my little finger. One of them had something particularly
observable, to wit, a thin piece of the white shell which I before noticed as
their covering while they remained in the condition of embrios, sticking close
to his natural shell upon his back. This sufficiently confirms me in my
opinion of the manner of their generation. I have put this remarkable crab with
a piece of the gulf-weed, shells, &c., into a glass phial filled with salt
water, (for want of spirits of wine,) in hopes to preserve the curiosity till I
come on shore. The wind is SouthWest.
Saturday, October 1, 1726
Last night our consort, who goes incomparably better upon a wind than our
vessel, got so far to windward and ahead of us, that this morning we could see
nothing of him, and it is like shall see him no more. These SouthWests are hot,
damp winds, and bring abundance of rain and dirty weather with them.
Sunday, October 2, 1726
Last night we prepared our line with a design to sound this morning at four
o'clock; but the wind coming about again to the northwest, we let it alone. I
cannot help fancying the water is changed a little, as is usual when a ship
comes within soundings, but `t is probable I am mistaken; for there is but one
besides myself of my opinion, and we are very apt to believe what we wish to be
true.
Monday, October 3, 1726
The water is now very visibly changed to the eyes of all except the Captain and
Mate, and they will by no means allow it; I suppose because they did not see it
first. Abundance of dolphins are about us, but they are very shy, and keep at a
distance. Wind North-West.