 they
stifled the dictates of compassion, hoisted sail, and cruelly abandoned them to
their fate.«
 
3 Among the vessels which at various times have professed to meet with the
Auroras may be mentioned the ship San Miguel, in 1769; the ship Aurora, in 1774;
the brig Pearl, in 1779; and the ship Dolores, in 1790. They all agree in giving
the mean latitude fifty-three degrees south.
 
4 The terms morning and evening, which I have made use of to avoid confusion in
my narrative, as far as possible, must not, of course, be taken in their
ordinary sense. For a long time past we had had no night at all, the daylight
being continual. The dates throughout are according to nautical time, and the
bearings must be understood as per compass. I would also remark, in this place,
that I cannot, in the first portion of what is here written, pretend to strict
accuracy in respect to dates, or latitudes and longitudes, having kept no
regular journal until after the period of which this first portion treats. In
many instances I have relied altogether upon memory.
 
5 This day was rendered remarkable by our observing in the south several huge
wreaths of the grayish vapor I have before spoken of.
 
6 The marl was also black; indeed, we noticed no light-colored substances of any
kind upon the island.
 
7 For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in these dates. They
are given principally with a view to perspicuity of narration, and as set down
in my pencil memorandum.

