Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/119

This page has been validated.
March 1769.]
Cape Horn to Tahiti.
51

that there is no land near in that Quarter.[1] The remainder part of this day fresh breezes and clear. At 9 a.m. took 3 Sets of Observations of the sun and moon in order to find the Long. of the Ship. Wind W. to N.W.; course N. 13° W.; distance 42 m.; lat. 39° 33′ 30″ S., long. 110° 38′ W.

Wednesday, March 1st.—First part fresh breezes, the remainder moderate breezes and clear weather. The result of the Forementioned Observations gives 110° 33′ W. Long. from Greenwich, and exactly agrees with the Long. given by.the Log from Cape Horn. This Agreement of the two Longitudes after a Run of 660 leagues is surprizing, and much more than could be expected; but, as it is so, it serves to prove, as well as the repeated trials we have made when the weather would permit, that we have had no Current that hath Affected the Ship since we came into these Seas. This must be a great Sign that we have been near no land of any extent, because near land are generally found Currents. It is well known that on the East side of the Continent in the North Sea we meet with Currents above 100 Leagues from the Land, and even in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Africa and America, are always found Currents; and I can see no reason why Currents should not be found in this Sea, supposing a Continent or lands lay not far West from us, as some have imaggin'd, and if such land was ever seen we cannot be far from it, as we are now 560 leagues W. of the Coast of Chili.[1] Wind W. by S.; course N. 76° W.; distance 52 m.; lat. 38° 44′ S., long. 111° 43′ W.; at noon, Cape Horn S. 60° E. 660 leagues.

Thursday, 2nd.—Former part, fresh gales and hazey, with much rain; the remainder, a Strong fresh gale and pretty clear weather. Wind Westerly; course N. by W.; distance 87 m.; lat. 37° 16° S., long. 112° 5′ W.

Friday, 3rd.—First part, moderate breezes; remainder, calm and clear weather. A.M. employed filling salt Water in the Fore Hold and airing all the Spare Sails. Wind West, calm; course N. 17° E.; distance 31 m.; lat. 36° 49′ S., long. 111° 34′ W.

Saturday, 4th.—First part, Calm; remainder, a fine genteel breeze and clear weather. Variation per Azimuth and Amplitude this Evening 2° 26′ E. The S.W. swell still keeps up, notwithstanding it hath been Calm 24 hours. Wind calm, N.E., N.; course N. 50° W.; distance 58 m.; lat. 36° 12′ S., long. 112° 50° W.

Sunday, 5th.—First and latter parts, fine Clear weather; the Middle, fresh gales and Hazey, with rain. Wind N.W. by N. and N.W.; course S. 81° 40′ W.; distance 64 m.; lat. 36° 21′ S., long. 114° 0′ W.

  1. 1.0 1.1 These are instances of Cook's observation and seamanlike perspicacity. The prevailing belief of the time was in a great southern continent.