Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/75

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Oct. 1768.]
Crossing Equator.
13

Observed latitude being again to the Northward shows that there must be a current setting between the N. and W. Wind S. by E. to S.E. by S.; course S. 52° W.; distance 48 m.; lat. 3° 16′ N., long. 26° 20′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, N. 18° 30′ E., 270 leagues.

Friday, 21st—A moderate breeze, and for the most part clear weather. Long. per the Mean of 2 Observations of the sun and moon made at 4ʰ 45′ and at 4ʰ 54′ p.m., 26° 33′ W. Variation of the Compass 4° 7′ W., and the Observed Lat. at Noon to the Northward of the Log 7 Miles. Wind S.E. to S.S.E.; course S. 58° W.; distance 57 m.; lat. 2° 46′ N., long. 27° 11′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, S.E. point, N. 21° E., 281 leagues.

Saturday, 22nd.—Moderate breezes and fine, pleasant weather. Variation 3° 17′ W. Wind S.E. by S.; course S. 43° 15′ W.; distance 87 m.; lat. 1° 45′ N., long. 28° 12′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, S.E. point, N. 23° E., 312 leagues.

Sunday, 23rd—A moderate, Steady breeze and fine Clear weather. The Ship by Observation at Noon is 8 Miles to the Northward of the Log. Wind S.S.E.; course S.; distance 5 m.; lat. 1° 40′ N., long. 28° 12′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, S.E. point, N. 23° E., 312 leagues.

Monday, 24th—First part ditto weather; remainder fresh Breezes and Cloudy, with some flying Showers of rain. Variation per Azimuth this morning 3° W. At Noon by Observation found the Ship 11 Miles ahead of the Log. Wind S. by E. to S.E. by S.; course S. 49° W.; distance 50 m.; lat. 1° 7′ N.; long. 28° 50′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, S.E. point, N. 25° E., 328 leagues.

Tuesday, 25th—A Genteel breeze and Clear weather, with a Moist Air. Soon after sunrise found the Variation of the Compass to be 2° 24′ W., being the Mean result of several very good Azimuths. This was just before we crossed the Line in the Longitude of 29° 29′ W. from Greenwich. We also try'd the Diping Needle belonging to the Royal Society, and found the N. point to Dip 26 degrees below the Horizon; but this Instrument cannot be used at Sea to any great degree of accuracy on account of the Motion of the Ship, which hinders the Needle from resting. However, as the Ship was pretty steady, and by means of a Swinging Table I had made for that purpose, we could be Certain of the Dip to two Degrees at most. The Observed Latitude and that by account nearly Agree. Wind S.E. to S.E. by E.; course S. 30° W.; distance 95 m.; lat. 0° 15′ S., long. 29° 30′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, SE. point, N. 26° E., 358 leagues.

Wednesday, 26th—First part light Airs and Cloudy weather, the remainder a Moderate Breeze and Cloudy. After we had got an observation, and it was no longer Doubted that we were to the Southward of the Line, the Ceremony on this occasion practis'd by