Noon it extended from N.E. to N.W., distant 5 Leagues; the middle appear'd high and mountainous, and the two Extremes low. Took several Observations of the Sun and Moon, which gave the Longitude, reduced to Noon, as per Column. Wind Ditto S.E.; course N. 85° W.; distance 79 m.; lat. 34° 45′ S.; long. 338° 48′ W. per Observation, 328° 35′ per Reckoning.
Tuesday, 12th.—In the P.M. had the wind at S.E. and E., with which we steer'd along shore W. and W.S.W. At 6 Cape Laguillas[1] bore W., distance 3 Leagues. At 8, the wind being then at S., we tack'd and stood off, being about 2 Leagues from the Cape, which bore about W.N.W. In this Situation had 33 fathoms water; the Wind continued between S.W. and S. all night, in times very Squally, with rain. At 2 a.m. tacked to the Westward until near 8, when we again stood off Cape Laguillas, N.W., distance 2 or 3 Leagues. At 9 the weather clear'd up, and the wind fix'd at S. by W. We tack'd, and stood to the Westward. At Noon Cape Laguillas bore N.E. by N., distant 4 Leagues. The land of this Cape is very low and sandy next the Sea; inland it is of a moderate height. Latitude 34° 50′ S., Longitude 339° 23′ W., or 20° 37′ E., deduced from Yesterday's Observations. Wind E.S.E. Southerly; course S. 69° 30′ W.; distance 37 m.; lat. 34° 58′ S.; long. 339° 30′ per Observation, 329° 17′ per Reckoning.
Wednesday, 13th.—In the P.M., having the wind at S., we steer'd along shore W. by S. ½ S. until 3 o'clock, when, finding this course carried us off from the land, we steer'd W. by N.; at 6 o'clock Cape Laguillas, or the high land over it, bore E. by N. 12 Leagues distance, and the westermost land in sight N.W. ½ W. We continued a W. by N. course, with the wind at S.E. until day light in the Morning, when we haul'd in N.W. and N.W. by N.; at 8 the Cape of Good Hope N.W. by N., and at 10 we were abreast of it, and distance off about 1 League or little more. We passed close without a rock, on which the Sea broke very high; it lies about a League right out to Sea from the Cape. After passing the Cape we kept along shore at the distance of about 1 League off, having a fresh Gale at S.E.; at noon the Cape bore S.E., distance 4 Leagues. Latitude observed 34° 15′ S., Longitude in, by our reckoning, corrected by the last observation, 341° 7′ W., or 18° 53′ E. from Greenwich, by which the Cape lies in 34° 25′ S. Latitude, and 19° 1′ E. Longitude from Greenwich, which nearly agrees with the observations made at the Cape Town by Messrs. Mason and Dixon in 1761; a proof that our observations have been well made, and that as such they may always be depended upon to a surprizing degree of accuracey. If we had had no such guide we should have found an
- ↑ L'Agulhas.
