Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/261

] in this channel, and we were generally very fortunate in catching them.

Scarcely had we passed the strait, to the distance of 1,500 toises when we could no longer distinguish the opening. The depth increased, as we advanced into the open sea.

At noon, our latitude was 43° 1′ S. and our longitude 145° 19′ E.

We were not long in doubling Cape Pillar, and we immediately steered a north-east course, in order that we might explore the south-west coast of New Caledonia.

The mercury in the barometer sunk into 27 inches 8 lines, and we had a violent gale from the N.W. The motion of the ship was to me as sickening as at our departure from Brest. During our stay at Cape Diemen, I had completely forgotten my sailing habits.

On the 30th of May we had made great progress; for at noon, our latitude was 40° 55′ S. and our longitude 150° 4′ E.

The Mercury in the barometer had fallen to 27 inches 4 lines, and had not deceived us in announcing impetuous winds. We could only scud under our fore-sail, which at last we were obliged to strike, but fortunately we had the wind a-stern.

Although the thermometer was not lower than 9° 2-10ths