Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/313

April 1770.] hath been for some days past. At Noon we were in the Lat. of 39° 11′, and Long. from Cape Farewell 17° 35′ W.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday noon S. 66° W., 10 Miles.

Friday, 13th.—Light Airs next to a Calm, with Clear pleasant weather; what little wind we had was from the N.W. quarter. In the Course of this day found the Variation to be 12° 27′ E., being at Noon, by observation, in the Lat. of 39° 23′ S., and Long. 204° 2′ W.; Course and distance since Yesterday noon S. 62° W., 26 Miles, and Long. made from Cape Farewell 18° 4′ W.

Saturday, 14th.—Calm serene weather, with sometimes light Airs from the Northward. At sun set found the Variation to be 11° 28′ E., and in the Morning to be 11° 30′ E. The Spritsail Topsail being wore to rags, it was condemn'd as not fit for its proper use, and Converted to repair the 2 Top Gallant Sails, they being of themselves so bad as not to be worth the Expence of new Canvas, but with the help of this sail may be made to last some time longer. At Noon Latitude in 39° 25′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 18° 21′ W.; Course and distance since Yesterday noon S. 18° W., 13 Miles.

Sunday, 15th.—In the P.M. had light Airs at N., which in the A.M. increased to a fresh Gale, with which we made the best of our way to the Westward, and by noon had run since yesterday upon a S. 86° 15′ W. Course, 79 Miles. Latitude in, by Observation, 39° 30′ S., and Long. made from Cape Farewell 20° 2′ W. Some flying fish seen this day.

Monday, 16th.—Fresh Gales at N.N.W., with Cloudy, hazey weather. In the P.M. saw an Egg Bird, and yesterday a Gannet was seen; these are Birds that we reckon never to go far from land. We kept the lead going all night, but found no soundings with 100 and 130 fathoms line. At noon we were in the Lat. of 39° 40′ S., and had made 22° 2′ of Longitude from Cape Farewell; course and distance sail'd since Yesterday at Noon S. 82° W., 108 Miles.

Tuesday, 17th.— At 2 p.m. the wind came to W.S.W., at which time we Tack'd and stood to the N.W. Before 5 o'Clock we were obliged to close reef our Topsails, having a Strong gale, with very heavy squalls; about this time a Small land bird was seen to pearch upon the rigging. We sounded, but had no ground with 120 fathoms of line. At 8 o'Clock we wore and stood to the Southward until 12 at Night, then wore and stood to the N.W. until 4 a.m., when we again stood to the Southward, having a fresh Gale at W.S.W., attended with Squalls and dark hazey unsettled weather until 9; at which time it fell little wind, and the weather soon after Clear'd up, which, a little after 11, gave us an Opportunity of taking several observations of the Sun and Moon, the Mean