on the following day. The land where they have their abode may poſſibly be diſcovered, when theſe ſeas ſhall be more frequented by navigators.
14th. A fall of the mercury in the barometer from 28 inches 3 lines, to 27 inches 7 lines, announced the approach of violent gales, which blew from W. and S.W. and raiſed the billows ſo high that they frequently daſhed over our decks. One of them, that had entangled our mizen chains, broke againſt the ſtern of the veſſel with ſuch force, that the ſailors thought we had ſtruck upon a rock. The ſhock was tremendous, and ſome of the ſtore-rooms inſtantly leaked.
The violence of the ſhock had thrown the Commander againſt one of the corners of a barrel-organ, intended as a preſent to ſome ſavage chief. The ſurgeon thought at firſt that he had fractured one of his falſe ribs; and the pain was ſo great, that, whenever he ſneezed, it threw him into a fainting fit. However, he ſoon recovered his health.
During the night the atmoſphere was filled with a ſuperabundance of electric matter: a part was drawn off by means of our conductors, upon the top of which we obſerved a luminous ſpeck, that vaniſhed and re-appeared ſeveral times in ſucceſſion. The ſea appeared more phoſphoric than uſual.
