Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/252

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Monday, January 1st.—P.M., fresh breezes at S.W. by S. and Squally, the remainder moderate breezes at S.W. by S. and S.W. clear weather. At 7 p.m. Tack'd and stood to the Westward. At this time Mount Camel bore N. 83° E. and the Northermost land or Cape Maria Van Diemen N. by W., being distant from the Nearest Shore 3 Leagues; in this sinuation had 40 fathoms Water.

.—Mount Camel doth not appear to lay little more than a Mile from the Sea on this Side and about the same distance on the other, so that the land here cannot be above 2 or 3 Miles broad from Sea to Sea, which is what I computed when we were in Sandy Bay on the other side of the Coast. At 6 a.m. Tack'd and Stood to the Eastward, the Island of the 3 Kings N.W. by N. At Noon Tack'd again and stood to the Westward, being in the Latitude of 34° 37′ S.; the Island of the 3 Kings bore N.W. by N., distant 10 or 11 Leagues; and Cape Maria Van Diemen N. 31 E., distant 4½ Leagues; in this situation had 54 fathoms. I cannot help thinking but what it will appear a little strange that at this season of the Year we should be 3 Weeks in getting 10 Leagues to the Westward and 5 Weeks in getting 50 Leagues, for so long it is since we pass'd Cape Brett; but it will hardly be credited that in the midst of Summer and in the Latitude of 35° S. such a Gale of wind as we have had could have hapned which for its Strength and Continuance was such as I hardly was ever in before. Fortunately at this time we were a good distance from land, otherwise it would have proved fatal to us.

Tuesday, 2nd.—Fresh breezes at S.S.W. and W. accompanied with a rowling Sea from the S.W. At 5 p.m. the wind Veering to the Westward we Tack'd and Stood to the Southward. At this time the North Cape bore E. ¾ N. and was just open of a point that lies 3 Leagues W. by S. from it, being now well assured that it is the Northermost Extremity of this Country and is the East point of a Peninsula which Stretches out N.W. and N.W. by N. 17 or 18 Leagues, and as I have before observed is for the most part low and narrow except its Extremity where the land is Tollerable high and Extends 4 or 5 Leagues every way. Cape Maria Van Diemen is the West point of the Peninsula and lies in the Latitude of 34° 30′ S.; Long. 187° 18′ West from Greenwich.