ably to the southward, the latitude being 11° 14'. Not being acquainted with the coast, and having nothing but a general chart to direct us, we intended to pass to the northward of New-Year's Isle. As the afternoon advanced, the weather assumed a more gloomy aspect, and we perceived, with deep anxiety, the indications of an approaching storm.
About seven, P.M., not being able to lie higher than south-west, and to avoid a dense and dark-looking cloud, which was brooding over the deep in that direction, we wore, and stood on the other tack;—hardly was this manoeuvre effected, when the wind, in a sudden squall, shifted, and blew furiously from the southward; the rain poured down in torrents, accompanied with loud and long-continued peals of thunder; and vivid streams of lightning flashed fearfully on our eyes. We were now enabled to shape our course, and, the wind being unaccompanied with a heavy sea, we advanced with much rapidity in the midst of this elemental war.
About midnight we discovered land, concluded to be New Year's Isle. We passed to the northward, and proceeded on in company;—the lightning showing us to each other. In about an hour, we perceived another island, which puzzled us not a little; we kept away, to give it a good berth, and then resumed our course, thinking all safe, when a friendly flash of lightning showed us a rock right a-head, to which we were fast approaching; and on which, in a few
