VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
167
June 23.On the twenty-third, Latitude 26° 0′, the weather moderated ſo much as to afford an opportunity of examining the leak, when we found the lower cheek of the head looſened, and the waſh-boards of the ſtarboard cheek, entirely waſhed away; the oakum worked out of the wooden ends, ſo as to admit an arm-full to be ſtuffed in by hand, and no one was yet convinced but that the plank had ſtarted from the ſtem. We made our utmoſt exertions to get every thing aft, in order to raiſe the leak above water: and here, to add to our diſappointment, it became neceſſary, for want of food to ſuſtain them, to kill our ſmall flock of pigs which had been reſerved to regale us on our homeward paſſage round Cape Horn.
27.By the twenty-ſeventh we had returned again to the Northward as far as 18° South, when we finiſhed caulking and leading over the leak, the only method we had of ſecuring it, having neither pitch, tar, or roſin on board, for marine ſtores being all expended. Our bread was not fit to eat, and our other proviſions ſo ſhort, that owing to its bad qualities we could ſcarce exiſt on it: thus ſituated, we propoſed, as our laſt trial in theſe ſeas, to continue on to the Northward till we made the land, in hopes to fall in