Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/249

Dec. 1769.] Monday, 18th.—Moderate breezes at W. and W.N.W. and Clear weather. At 4 p.m. Tack'd and stood in shore, in doing of which we meet with a Strong rippling, and the Ship fell fast to leeward, occasioned, as we thought, by a Current setting to the Eastward. At 8 Tack'd and stood off N. until 8 a.m., when we Tack'd and stood in, being about 10 Leagues from the Land. At Noon the Point of Land we were near to yesterday at noon bore S.S.W., distant 5 Leagues. Latitude observed 34° 8′ S.

Tuesday, 19th.—The wind still continues at W. P.M., a moderate breeze and Clear weather. At 7 Tack'd in 35 fathoms; the point of land before mentioned bore N.W. by N., distant 4 or 5 Miles, having not gained one inch to windward this last 24 hours, which is a great proof that there must be a Current setting to the Eastward. The Point of Land above mentioned I have called North Cape, judging it to be the Northermost Extremity of this Country. It lies in the Latitude of 34° 22′ S. and Longitude 186° 55′ W. from Greenwich, and N. 63° W. 31 Leagues from C. Brett; it forms the No. Point of Sandy Bay, and is a peninsula juting out N.E. about 2 Miles, and Terminates in a Bluff head which is flatt at Top. The Isthmus which joins this head to the Mainland is very low, on which account the land off the Cape from several situations makes like an Island. It appears still more remarkable when to the Southward of it by the appearance of a high round Island at the S.E. Point of the Cape; but this is likewise a deception, being a round hill join'd to the Cape by a low, narrow neck of Land; on the S.E. side of the Cape there appears to be anchorage, and where ships must be covered from S.E. and N.W. winds. We saw a Hippa or Village upon the Cape and some few inhabitants. In the night had some Squalls attended with rain, which obliged us to take another Reef in our Topsails. At 8 a.m. Tack'd and stood in Shore, and being moderate loosed a Reef out of each Topsail and set the small sails. At noon we were in the Latitude of 34° 2′ S., and being hazey over the land we did not see it.

Wednesday, 20th.—P.M., Fresh breezes at W. by N., and Clear weather. At 6 Tack'd and stood off, North Cape bore S., distant 3 or 4 Miles. At 4 a.m. Tack'd and stood in, Wind at W.N.W. a fresh breeze, but at 9 it increased to a Strong Gale with heavy squalls attended with Thunder and Rain, which brought us under our Courses. At 11 it Cleared up and the Wind came to W.S.W.; we set the Topsails, double Reef'd and Tack'd and stood to the N.W. At Noon, a Stiff Gale and Clear weather; Latitude observed 34° 14′ S. North Cape S.S.W., distant 3 Leagues.

Thursday, 21st.—Fresh breezes at S.W. and clear weather with a