Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/156

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146
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1792.

windmill, which we had faſtened very ſtrongly to the poop, was carried away by the billows. As our veſſel was much too heavily laden, we thought ourſelves indemnified for the loſs, by getting rid of a burden of eleven hundred weight. I do not know how it happened that we were burthened with ſuch an almoſt uſeleſs machine, ſince whereever we were able to procure wheat, we could likewiſe procure flour. At any rate, a hand-mill ſix times lighter, would have been leſs cumberſome, and would have anſwered our purpoſe better.

The rolling of the veſſel was ſo violent, that our time-keepers ſtruck againſt the ſides of their boxes, which ought to have been made rather more ſpacious.

We ſtill ſaw a great number of flying fiſh, though we had already paſſed the 35° of S. latitude.

The quarter-galleries of both veſſels were built much too low, particularly conſidering they drew ſo deep. We had reaſon to apprehend that they might be carried away by the ſurge, if it ſhould long continue to run ſo high: thoſe of the lower deck of the Eſperance were already conſiderably damaged.

29th. At this ſeaſon of the year, veſſels that approach near to the mouth of the channel of

Mozambique,