EARLY RECORDS OF PORT PHILLIP. 73 Monday^ 6. "Wind S. a.m. — Moderate breezes ; at 11, squally, with rain at intervals, p.m. — At 6 do. wr., with rain and lightning. ' In this latitude before you have the squalls in generally lightning before the rain, and it looks very awful. Tuesday, 7. Wind S.E. a.m. — At 11 observd a strange sail to the S.AV. stearing northward ; half-past squally, with a heavy swell and hard rain. p.m. — do, wr. at intervals. Wednesd., 8. Wind, S.E. b. S. a.m. — Fresh breezes and cloudy ; at noon, squally with rain. p.m. — At 5 saw a ship to the northward ; shew our colours to her. T/iursday, 9. W^ind S.E. a.m. — Moderate breezes and clear, p.m. — At 2 saw a brig to the S.W. standing to the N. ward ; at 4 t. kd. a strange sail S.E. by E. ; 45 minutes past 4 set top gl'nt. sails ; 03 past 5 up courses and hove too, boarded the Emereld, from the River Gabon (in Africa), bound to Liverpool with gold dust, ivory, &c., &c. Gabon River, the S.W. cost of Africa, is a large river that falls into the ocean from the eastward, within the island of St. Thomas, directly under line or the equator. At half-past 11 we crossd the equinoctial line or equator, lat. observd 35.* Friday, 10. Wind S.E. b. S. a.m. — Steady fresh breezes and clear; at 10 Old Neptune came on board. Such persons as had never crossd the line were compelld to undergo the ridiculous ceremonies of shaving, &c., which those who were privileged were allowed to perform, p.m. — The day was conducted with much myrtli ; at 3 moderate and clear wr. Saturday, 11. Wind S.S.E. a.m. — Moderate breezes and cloudy; 30 past 10, saw a sail to the S.W., standing to the windward, set t. gl'nt. sails, p.m. — do. wr. ; at 1 shortend sail and boarded Rio Nova from Africa to Demarara with 325 slaves, men and women ; took three men out of the above ship for mutiny, and confined them ; quarter before 3 in boat and made all sail ; we got parrotts, &c., from the ship ; half-past 11, Mary Wiggins was deliverd of a son, wife of a Colonial marine. Sunday, 12. Wind S.E. a.m. — Steady fresh breezes, and clear ; 30 past 9, musterd by divisions ; 10 performd divine service to all the convicts, &c., &c., as before, p.m. — 40 past 5 spoke the Ocean ; enquired after the health of the people ; was informd they were all well, but that Mr. Hartley, a settler, had behaved ill on board. The evenings are dark at 6, nor light till near 6 in the morn. Monday, 13. Wind S. b. W. a.m. — Moderate wr. ; at 9 releasd and sent to duty the three men from the Rio Nova. p.m. — do. wr., Ocean in company. Tuesday, 14. a.m. — At 8 moderate and cloudy ; at noon a fresh trade wind, with pleasant wr. p.m. — do. wr. Wednesday, 15. Wind E.S.E. a.m. — Fresh breezes and cloudy; at 4 squally, with rain and lightning, p.m. — do. wr. at intervals.
- It is impossible to understand what these figures mean, the ship having crossed the
line only half an hour before noon of this day ; but possibly the next day's latitude, in minutes, MTitten in the •wrong entry, is intended hiy them. They are copied exactly. The Friday's entry, however, seems to prove that she did not cross the line on the 9th, so it may be Thursday's latitude, North. [C]
