making of Brooms, or scarce any other Use. That day we saw some Smoaks, far within the Island, and guess'd they might be a Signal of the Number of our Ships, or else made by some of the Country Hunters, who had lost their Way.
The next Night preceding the 17th, the Wind freshning from the N. W. and starting up all on a sudden, drove the Vessel call'd la Belle upon her Anchor, so that she came foul of the Boltsprit of the Aimable, carrying away the Spritsail-Yard and the Spritsail-Top-Sail-Yard, and had not they immediately veer'd out the Cable of the Aimable, the Vessel la Belle would have been in danger of perishing, but escap'd with the Loss of her Mizen, which came by the Board, and of about a hundred Fathoms of Cable and an Anchor.
The 18th, the Wind being fresh, we made ready, and sail'd about Ten in the Morning, standing North and N. and by W. and held our Course till Noon; the Point of Cape St. Anthony bearing East and West with us, and so continu'd steering North-West, till the 19th at Noon, when we found our selves in the Latitude of 22 Degrees 58 minutes North, and in 287 Degrees 54 Minutes Longitude.
Finding the Wind shifting from one Side to another, we directed our Course several Ways, but that which prov'd advantageous to us, was the fair Weather, and that was a great Help, so that scarce a Day pass'd without taking an Observation.
The 20th, we found the Variation of the Needle was 5 Degrees West, and we were in 26 Degrees 40 Minutes of North Latitude and 285 Degrees 16 Minutes Longitude. The 23th it grew very cloudy,[1] which threaten'd stormy Weather, and we prepar'd to receive it, but came off only with the Apprehension, the Clouds dispersing several Ways, and we continu'd till the 27th in and about 28 De-*
- ↑ The Fr. reads, "il s'éleva un gros meage au nord"—i. e. there arose a great cloud to the northward.
