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OUTHIER’S JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO THE NORTH. 264
On Thurfday the third, we were all very well. M. Celfius had brought a fmall qua-
drant from England of a new con{btruction, for taking elevations at fea ; we tried it, and
on the following days made ufe of it. We f{tudied and calculated. M. de Maupertuis
amufed us with his livelinefs, and the charms of his converfation.
On Friday, the fourth, we faw a little greenfinch among the yards, it flew fometimes
to the edges of the deck, at others amid the rigging, following us until the eighth of the
month, after which we faw it no longer.
There came alfo a great bird, fimilar to a buzzard, which perched on our main-maft
to ret itfelf; it came from the Eaft, and after half an hour flew away towards the Welt.
We took an obfervation with the Englifh inftrument at noon, and found the latitude
4° 34".
z The captain and the pilot with the foreftaff found it 54° 36’.
At the beginning of the evening we {aw a fine aurora borealis.
that it prefaged a tempett.
Saturday, the fifth, the weather became fqually, and I was very fick.
We obferved again the height of the fun with our Englifh inftrument, and found our
latitude within a minute of our computation by the log.
When the weather was fine, although it was windy ; (as was almoft always the cafe)
we dined on the deck: it was fometimes fo much inclined that we were frequently.near
overfetting, difhes and all, which created fome little confufion at our meals.
All day, Sunday, the fixth, the weather has been rather fqually ; I have been con-
tinually fick and unable to eat any thing.
A wave broke, and nearly covered the deck : the captain ordered us to make hafte
into the cabin.
Monday, the feventh, which was Rogation Monday, the fea was very much fwelled.
The night very dark. The fea entirely covered with fparks of light. We hoifted up
water in a pail, and agitating it with the hand, we diftinguifhed a number of fimilar
fparks, which followed the motion of the water, and for the moft part funk to the
bottom of the bucket.
A Norwegian fhip, large, and of a bad appearance, as well as its failors on the deck,
purtued us in an infolent manner aftern, and going fafter than us, would have run us
down, had we not {teered out of its way.}
Thurfday the tenth, (Afcenfion Day,) very bad weather, we went at a great rate all
on one fide, from Skayen, very nearly to the Sound. The pilot has not loft fight all
day long, of a veffel which went before us, and has followed its track: Kept all day
on deck, not being able to bear fhutting up ; was obliged to hold by the rigging on the
upper part of the:deck. Were fo much inclined that the gunwale was frequently un-
der water.
At night fall the captain and pilot much embarrafled, afraid to enter the ftrait, and
equally fearful-of keeping out at fea, left we fhould be driven by the winds on the coatts.
We reefed all fails, and paft a moft horrid night, rolling dreadfully and continually.
All the thiags in our lockers ftruck, and rolled againft each other. This fituation ap-
peared the more dreadful to us from its being new; M. de Maupertuis kept all his
prefence of mind,:and encouraged us by his ferenity; and the livelinefs of his wit.
At length on the eleventh, by two in the morning at dawn of day we fet fail, entered
the ftrait, and-anchored before Elfineur. Meflrs. Le Monnier and Celfius difembarked
to proceed by land to Stockholm: Meflrs. Chronihelm and Lythenius, went on fhore
as well to proceed to Gottenburg : Mefirs. de Maupertuis, and Camus accompanied
the captain to Elfineur to make their declaration, Thefe gentlemen learned of M.
Ans,
The pilot remarked.
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