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Feirfully High & the wind a perfic Gale the first thing that was done was to know whear the Damage Part was. A wave Came & Cleared every thing that was Moveable the Engins going a-head Halfspeed The Pumps was sounded and found that thear was But little water in the Main Hole & then a wave came & bured her head under water for some time Wave after wave which frightened the Capt. & he gave Orders to Clear the Quaters Boats thinking the Ship was fast going down the Damage Part was found to be in the Stern- or Fore-hole which was full of Water about 36 Tons of water we was set to work at the pumps & at the leck [leak] with Pails & Buckets at ½ 5 a.m. Day-brake the Scean was Awful the Sea Making a Brech over her from Stem to Stern the Capt. as been a Captain for 32 Years & he said that he Never Experance such a fierful Sea in his Life the Sails Steadyed her [Very] the flag of Distress flying all day at 8.a.m. a Sail was Sighted from our Mast head it was a Schooner which bore down to us in Good Style but she passed a Mile ½ astern of us. She was the one that took the News to Giberalter that we was lost from Hence to England the Captain altered his Corse the Sea was Dreadful & Gale of Wind the Same Every think was thrown Over Board from her Fore-part of the Ship. The Loss of Property was Very Great the Cheaf things was Tools Timber &c At 1.p.m. the Gale & Sea Lowered, & at ½ 1.p.m. Land was seen from our Mast head which [much]
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Sunday 28th The Morning Very fine and Hot we weigh anchor & Steamed up the Bay further withe the flag of Distress flying to be under more Shelter we Droped anchor opposite a large Stone Fortification & Mounted a Great Meney Guns at ½ 8. a. m. The Capt & 2 of our Officers went to see the Consul about the Ship being taken into a Dry Dock but returned & told us that thear was no Dock long Enough to take her nor no Sandy Beach for thear was but Very little fall of the Tide all hands was was shiften the Cargo to the After part of the Vessell so as to lighten the Fore part to Assertain the Damage The City of Tunis is about 6 Miles from whear we Layed & Setting Sun Shone on it & it looked a Splened Sight all Stone Building & at about 11.a.m. the Camels & Elephants with thear Riders on them going to the Town from Carthage to Church at 4 p.m. a french Admiral left the Bay in a Small Steam War Ship which the Battery opened a Salute of 21 Guns Which the Vessell returned
Monday 29th Fine Morning. Still Shiften the Cargo to the After Part of the Vessell & the Crew Sewing Sails & Blancket[s] together to pass under the Stem of the Ship to Stop the leak if Possible it was reported to some of the Men that the Ship Could not be repaired thear & that the Capt. Ment going to Sea as it was at which the Men became Very Violent in thear words & said they would not allow the anchor to be waighed for the Ship was unseaworthy
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Proved to be Cape Bon at ½ 4 Passing Cape Bon which is only a very high rock the ship lamp was lit up The Engins going Only Half Speed for to take Sounding with the lead the Sea Still Very rough & the wind getting up again at which the Capt. said by God he Hope he Should get into Harbour before Morning. At ½ 8.p.m. a light was seen but very dim this proved to be the light we wanted to see Every ½ hour told us we was Drawing Nearer to it This light House is a Revolveing white light at the Extrem point of Tunis Bay at which point Stands the Ruined Town of Carthage at ½ 11.p.m. we arrived in the Bay beteen two Lands & Droped Anchor to the Great Joy of all hands the Steam Still Kept up all Night & Men at the leak so meney at a time which was a Cold Job but we had Plenty of Rum gave us to keep out the Cold & at work a Great Meney got Drunk & Every Man seem to alter when we Droped Anchor
The plan of the Azof showing the Bulk Heads which We 375 souls was saved from a watery Grave
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Tuesday 30th Wether Very fine & and some of us maken a Tempery Pump for the leak Men very Dissatifed at 12. m.d the French Consul & Turkish Bay & attendance came on board & inspected the ship and Held a Consultation with our officers &c the F.C. & T.B. gave his Opinion that the Vessell [ ]ould Carry us safe to Malta he told us at the same [ ] that thows men that did not like to go in her. that a Vessell should be provied for them. Meney cheers for the F.C. & T.B of Tunis. The names was taken of upwards of 200 Men Wished for Another Ship the Azof took in a suply of fresh water from large Boats Brought along side the Natives is of a Copper complectn & Cheafley Arabs Very Tall
Wednesday 31st Wether fine and at 11.a.m. a Schooner Came & Anchored about ½ mile astern of us & 172 Men went on board of her with Provision &c when all off the Azoff 3 Cheers was given by us to them which was returned At 4. p.m. the Azof weighed anchor & Steamed Out of the Bay with a favurable Breeze at 3.p.m.
on Board the Schooner Rescid of Malta Moon light Night & at 11.p.m weighed anchor & sails set with a light Breeze
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Thursday Nov~ber 1st Wether fine with a light Breeze passed Cape Bon at 8.a.m. Passed an inhabited Ileland on the Coast of Africa at 4 p.m.
Friday 2sd Fine day [with] light Breeze at 3 p.m. Sighted the [Revolveing] lighthouse on the Ileland of Malta at 11.p.m Very Calm & Moolight & Sighted the Standing Light house at the Entrance of the Harbour.
Saturday 3rd 4th Week At 5.a.m. Entered the Harbour of Malta, a Splented Sight the light house lit up & the Diffrent Harbour & Forts & Rocks the Buildings are bilt of Stone with Fancy Masony Work Anchored in the Grand Harbour at 10.a.m Small boats came along side & took us off with our Lugged [luggage] & rowed round the light house to the Qurantine Bay at the end of which we landed at a Stone Building known as the New Hospitle Lazerreta Ileland Very fine & warm & Bathed in the Bay & walk round the Ileland & View H.M.S. Wasp laying off Fort Manuel & went through the Fort &c home to my New Quaters had to Sleep on the frool [floor] which Stone but the Damp proved Very Bad to us which had not been used to such a Thing