Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/108

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40
Cook's Journal.—First Voyage.
[Jan. 1769.

noon the West End of New Island bore N.W. by W., 5 leagues. Latitude observed 55° 25′ S., this Island I named New Island because it is not laid down in any Chart.[1]

Tuesday, 24th.—The fore and Middle parts of these 24 Hours Moderate Gales and Cloudy with some Showers of Rain; the Latter, fresh gales with flying Showers. At 7 p.m. New Island bore N.W. by N., and a small Island laying to the Westward of it bore W. by N. Variation per Several Azimuths 21° 0′ E., which is much less than we have yet found it upon this Coast; yet I am satisfied with the Goodness of the Observations. At ½-past 1 a.m. the Wind Shifted from S.S.W. to E.S.E. Tackt and stood S.W.; at 6 Saw the Land to the Westward making like several Islands. At 8 two Small Islands laying off a low Point of Land bore W. by S., distant 3 Leagues, and the small Island we saw last night bore N.N.W. This I take to be the Island of Evouts, it is about one League in Circuit, and of a Moderate height and lies 4 Leagues from the Main. Near the South Point of it are some Peaked rocks pretty high above Water; the wind coming to the Southward we did but just weather this Island; in passing it, sounded and had 40 fathoms Water, sand, and broken Shells. At Noon it bore N.E. distance one League, and the low point of land before mentioned S. 17° W. distant 4 or 5 Leagues. Tackt and Stood to the S.E., wind at S.S.W. From this low Point the land trends to the N.W., about 4 Leagues, where it ends in a low point round which to the Westward appears to be a Deep Bay, unless this land should prove to be an Island or Islands, which is most likely. It rises into high Craggy hills, and the Shore seems to form several Bays; if so, they must afford good Shelter for Shipping against Southerly and Westerly winds.

Wednesday, 25th.—Winds from the S. to the W.N.W., the first part fresh Gales and Squally with some Rain; Middle, little wind with Hail and Rain; latter, fresh Gales and Hazey, with Showers of Rain. At 8 p.m. the Island of Evouts N.W., distant 3 or 4 miles. Variation, per morning Amplitude 21° 16′ E. At 8 a.m. the Southermost low point of land seen Yesterday Bore S. 74° W., and a remarkable Peaked Hill to the Southward of it S.W.; and soon after we discovered that the land which we took Yesterday to be a part of the Main or an Island, was three Islands, which I take to be Hermites. At Noon the South Point of the Southermost Island bore N.W. by W. distant 3 leagues, having then 58 fathoms Peble Stones. This Point is pretty high and consists of Peaked Craggy rocks, and not far from it lay several others high above Water. It lies in the Latitude of 55° 53′ S. and S.W. 26 Leagues

  1. This island is still so called in the charts.