Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/117

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Feb. 1769.]
Cape Horn to Tahiti.
49

perienced. Prudence will direct every man when in those high Latitudes to make sure of sufficient Westing to double all the lands before he thinks of standing to the Northward. When the winds was Westerly the Mountains on Terra Del Fuego were generally covered with dense Clouds, formed, as one may reasonably suppose, by Westerly Exhalations and by Vapours brought thither by the Westerly winds. From that Quarter come frequent Showers of rain, hail, and Snow; and after we had left the land and were Standing to the Southward, with the winds westerly, dark dence clouds were Continually forming in the Horizon, and rose to about 45°, where they began to dissipate. These were generally attended with Showers of Rain, or hail, and Squals of Wind, but as we advanced to the Southward, these Clouds became less dence, and in the Latitude of 60° 10′, when we got the winds Easterly, the weather was more serene and Milder; again as we advanced to the Northward we had a constant Clouded sky and dark gloomy weather, the whole time exceeding Cold.

Tuesday, 14th.—The first part, fresh Gales and Hazey with rain; the remainder moderate and Cloudy, with frequent rain. Wind, Westerly, South; course S.W.; distance 32 m.; lat. 49 6′ S., long. 91° 12’ W.

Wednesday, 15th.—Little wind and Cloudy the most part of this day. Variation per Azimuth in the Evening 12° E., and in the morning both by an Amplitude and an Azimuth 11° E. A.M. Shifted the Mainsail, Mizen, Fore, and Main topsail. Wind, S.S.W., S.W., W. by N.; course N. 46° W.; distance 86 m.; lat. 48° 27′ S., long. 92° 5′ W.

Thursday, 16th.—The first part of this day had fresh Gales and Cloudy; in the night thick hazey weather with heavy squalls of wind and rain, which obliged us to close-reef our Topsails. In the morning and all the forenoon had strong gales and cloudy weather, and very heavy Seas from the S.S.W., one of which broke upon the Quarter and carried away the Driver Boom. Wind N.W., W., and S.; course N. 74° W.; distance 97 m.; lat. 48° 0′ S., long. 94° 25′ W.

Friday, 17th.—Strong Gales and Cloudy the most part of this day. Split the Maintopsail and unbent it, and bent another. Wind S.S.W.; course N.W. by W. ½ W.; distance 132 m.; lat. 46° 48′ S., long. 97° 17′ W.

Saturday, 18th.—Fresh gales all this day. The weather Variable, sometimes fair and Cloudy, other times hazey, with drizzling rain. Saw some Birds nearly as big as Albetrosses; they were all black, with Yellow Beaks. Wind S.W. by W.; course N. 32° 30′ W.; distance 140 m.; lat. 44° 50′ S., long. 99° 7′ W.

Sunday, 19th.—First part, fresh Gales and Hazey; the Middle