The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson | Page 7

fine, the boats were lowered
and the keels overhauled and repaired, and it was then found that a new
piece of wood which had been put on the after keel at Port Praya was
missing. Not having sufficient timber on board to repair it as before, the
keel was let farther down in the well and a breadth of planking was
joined to it with iron hooping and nails, with the result that it extended
three feet below the vessel.
On the 28th, when nearing Rio de Janeiro, an inspection was made of
the bread and water, and as the latter was found to be in good condition
Grant decided not to enter the port. Some of the bread was a little
damaged by leakage into the bread room, but a more water-tight place
for storing it was soon found. About the same date birds were again
observed, particularly the hoglet: the men caught many of these and
made caps of their skins. Mother Cary's chickens* (* Procellaria
pelagica Linn.) were also met with in great numbers. Gales and calms
now alternated until June 11th, when there were frequent squalls, the
wind finally blowing with such violence that at 3 P.M. it was thought
advisable to heave to. Later the storm abated, and the vessel was able to
make good progress until the 18th. A curious sea followed the ship on
this day, the waves rising perpendicularly, so that the commander
conjectured that there was ground at no great depth. He put the
deep-sea lead over, but no soundings could be obtained.
On the 23rd at 3 P.M. a vessel was seen bearing down before the wind
towards the Lady Nelson. The stranger proved to be a Spanish brig
carrying prize colours. She had been captured in the River Plate by a
privateer which had been fitted out by a merchant at the Cape of Good

Hope, and was commanded by Mr. John Black. She was then on her
way to the Cape of Good Hope. On coming within hail her master
informed the Lady Nelson's commander that he had neither book nor
chart on board, and wished to know where he was; he also begged
some twine and canvas to repair his sails. The prize was of about 70
tons burthen and was loaded with beeswax, hides, tallow, and tobacco.
She was without a boat, as it had been washed overboard, so Lieutenant
Grant shortened sail and desired her captain to keep near him and gave
him the latitude and longitude. On the following day the Lady Nelson
lowered a boat and brought the prize master on board, to whom
Lieutenant Grant gave a chart of the Cape and several other necessaries.
He asked Mr. Black why he had so boldly approached the Lady Nelson,
since his ship was painted like a Spaniard, and so might well have been
taken for one. Black's answer was that he knew from her canvas that
the Lady Nelson was not an enemy. When he was shown over her he
expressed his astonishment at her centre-boards, and her construction
was therefore explained to him. But evidently he was not favourably
impressed, for when he was being escorted back to his ship he asked
one of her sailors if his commander was not mad, for he could not
believe that such a small ship as the Lady Nelson could ever
accomplish a voyage of discovery.
The vessels continued to sail in company towards the Cape of Good
Hope.
At 5 A.M. on the 7th land was seen from the Lady Nelson, the
information being signalled to her companion. Soon after daylight the
Lion's Rump was perceived south-east by east 1/2 east, distant five
leagues. A little later the ships parted company. Lieutenant Grant had
intended to anchor in Simon's Bay, but having discovered that the Lady
Nelson had lost both her main and after keels during the voyage, he
sailed to Table Bay. On his arrival there Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, who
was in command of the station, gave orders for two new keels to be
built immediately, and it is recorded that so well did Mr. Boswell, the
builder's assistant (the builder himself being absent) perform his task
that the new keels reflected the greatest credit on him.

On the 16th, her repairs being completed, the Lady Nelson sailed for
Simon's Bay and anchored there at 9 A.M. on the following day. Here
was found H.M.S. Porpoise, also bound to New South Wales, which
left the bay for Sydney in advance of the Lady Nelson. During his stay
Lieutenant Grant met a relative, Dr. J. R. Grant, with whom he made
several excursions into the interior of the colony.
While the Lady Nelson was at the Cape of Good Hope a ship named
the Wellesley