Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/99

Rh Saturday, 24th.—First part Calm; remainder a Genteel breeze and fine Clear weather. This night had 2 Sets of Observations of the Moon and the Star Aldebaran, which gave the Longitude 49° 54′ 15″ W.; the first sett gave 49° 55′ 15″, and the Second 49° 53′ 15″. Wind calm, north-easterly; course S. 50° W.; distance 39 m.; lat. 37° 11′ S., long. 50° 32′ W.

Sunday, 25th.—Fresh breezes and fine Clear weather. Wind N.E. by N. to N.; course S. 50° W.; distance 116 m.; lat. 38° 37′ S., long. 52° 5′ W.

Monday, 26th.—A Fresh breeze of Wind and Cloudy weather; passed by some Rock Weed. At noon the Observed latitude 26 Miles to the Southward of the Log, which I believe is chiefly owing to her being Generally steer'd to the Southward of her Course. Yesterday being Christmas Day the people were none of the Soberest. Wind N.; course S.W.; distance 158 m.; lat. 40° 19′ S., long. 54° 30′ W.

Tuesday, 27th.—Fresh breezes and Hazey with Squalls which Obliged us during the Night to take in the small Sails and 2 reefs in the Topsails which were let out in the Morning. Wind northerly; course S. 50° W.; distance 123 m.; lat. 41° 38′ S., long. 56° 15′ W.

Wednesday, 28th.—First part Strong Gales and Cloudy, which Obliged us to get down Top-Gallant Yards. At 8 p.m. it blew a Storm of Wind with Rain which brought us under our Mainsail with her Head to the Westward. Sounded 50 fathoms, fine brown Sand; at midnight had 40 fathoms, the same bottom. At 4 a.m. had 46 fathoms Coral Rock. The weather being more Moderate, made Sail under the Courses and Set the Topsails with 2 Reefs in. Wind S.E. to S.; lat. 40° 49′ S., long. 58° 29′ W.

Thursday, 29th.—First part moderate breezes and Cloudy; remainder fresh breezes and Clear. P.M. loosed all the Reefs out, and got Topgallant Yards a Cross. Variation per Azimuth 16° 12′, per Amplitude 16° 32′; Mean of the Two 16° 22′ E. Between 9 and 10 a.m. took 7 sets of Observations between the sun and moon to find the Longitude of the Ship. Each set Consists of three Observations; the Mean of the whole gave 59° 18′ 34″ W. of Greenwich. The result of each set was as follows: viz., 1st set, 59° 8′; Second, 59° 21′; Third, 56° 34′; Fourth, 59° 17′; Fifth, 59° 11′ 45″; Sixth, 59° 19′ 30″; and the Seventh, 59° 20′ 45″. The greatest differance between any two—viz., the first and third—is but 26′, and the mean of these two differ from the mean of the whole only 2′ 26″. This shews to what degree of accuracy these observations can be made even by Different Persons, for four of these were made and computed by Mr. Green and the rest by myself. The Longitude given by the Ship, reckoning from the last Observation 5 Days ago,