Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/256

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180
Cook's Journal.—First Voyage.
[Jan. 1770.

excessive heavy Showers of rain; at this time we were about 3 Leagues from the Shore which lies under the Peaked Mountain before mentioned. This Peak we did not see, it being hid in the Clouds, but judged it to bear about S.S.E., and some very remarkable peaked Islands, lying under the Shore, bore E.S.E., distant 3 or 4 Leagues.

Saturday, 13th.—Winds Variable. P.M., Cloudy weather. At 7 o'Clock sounded and had 42 fathoms water, being distant from the Shore between 2 and 3 Leagues and the Peaked Mountain as near as I could judge bore E. After it was Dark saw a fire upon the Shore, a sure sign that the Country is inhabited. In the night had some Thunder, Lightning, and Rain; at 5 a.m. saw for a few Minutes the Top of the Peaked Mountain above the Clouds bearing N.E. It is of a prodidgious height and its Top is cover'd with Everlasting Snow; it lies in the Lat. of 39° 16′ S., and in the Long. of 185° 15′ W. I have named it Mount Egmont in honour of the Earl of Egmont.[1] This mountain seems to have a pretty large base and to rise with a Gradual Ascent to the Peak, and what makes it more Conspicuous is its being situated near the Sea and in the Midst of a flat Country which afforded a very good Aspect, being Cloathed with Woods and Verdure. The shore under the foot of this Mountain forms a large Cape which I have named Cape Egmont; it lies S.S.W. ½ W., 27 Leagues from Albetross Point. On the N.E. side of the Cape lay 2 Small Islands near to a very remarkable Point of the Main that riseth to a good height in the very form of a Sugar Loaf. To the Southward of the Cape the Land tends away S.E. by E. and E.S.E., and seems to be every where a bold shore. At Noon had variable light Airs and Clear weather. Latitude observ'd 39° 32′ S. Cape Egmont bore about N.E., and we were about 4 Leagues from the Shore in that direction; in this situation had 40 fathoms Water.

Sunday, 14th.—P.M., had a Gentle Breeze at W. In the evening came to N.W. by W. and Continued so all night and blow'd a fresh breeze; we steer'd along shore E.S.E. and S.E. by E., keeping between 2 and 3 Leagues off. At ½ past 7 p.m. Saw for a few Minutes Mount Egmont which bore from us N. 17 W., distant 10 Leagues. At 5 a.m. Steer'd S.E. by S. the land inclining more Southerly, but half an hour after we saw land bearing S.W. by S. which we hauld up for.[2] At this time the weather was squally attended with showers of rain. At noon had a Steady fresh breeze at W. by N. and Cloudy weather; the S.W. Extremity of the Land

  1. The Earl of Egmont was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1763 to 1766. Mount Egmont is a magnificent conical mountain, surrounded on three sides by the sea, from which it rises to a height of 8300 ft.
  2. The north end of the South Island, New Zealand.