A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

At day-break on the 10th, with a fine breeze at W.N.W., we weighed and stood out of the Sound; and, aftergetting round the Two Brothers, steered for Cape Campbell, which is at the S.W. entrance of the Strait, allsails set, with a fine breeze at north. At four in the afternoon, we passed the Cape, at the distance of four orfive leagues, and then steered S.S.E. 1/2 E. with the wind at N.W., a gentle gale, and cloudy weather.Next morning the wind veered round by the west to south, and forced us more to the east than I intended.At seven o'clock in the evening, the snowy mountains bore W. by S., and Cape Palliser N. 1/2 W., distantsixteen or seventeen leagues; from which cape I, for the third time, took my departure. After a few hourscalm, a breeze springing up at north, we steered S. by E. all sails set, with a view of getting into the latitudeof 54° or 55°; my intention being to cross this vast ocean nearly in these parallels, and so as to pass overthose parts which were left unexplored the preceding summer.In the morning of the 12th, the wind increased to a fine gale: At noon we observed in latitude 43° 13' 30"S., longitude 176° 41' E.; an extraordinary fish of the whale kind was seen, which some called a seamonster. I did not see it myself. In the afternoon, our old companions the pintado peterels began to appear.[1][1] Mr. G.F. describes this whale as being about twelve yards long, having an oblong blunt head, onwhich there were two longitudinal furrows, and as many upright ridges. It had small eyes, two semilunarapertures, from whence it occasionally spouted the water, and it was mottled all over withwhite spots. It had two large fins behind the head, but none on the back. In his opinion thisextraordinary creature was entirely unknown before.--E.On the 13th, in the morning, the wind veered to W.S.W. At seven, seeing the appearance of land to S.W.,we hauled up towards it, and soon found it to be a fog-bank. Afterwards we steered S.E. by S., and soonafter saw a seal. At noon, latitude, by account, 44° 25', longitude 177° 31' E. Foggy weather, whichcontinued all the afternoon. At six in the evening, the wind veered to N.E. by N., and increased to a freshgale, attended with thick hazy weather; course steered S.E. 1/4 S.On the 14th, a.m. saw another seal. At noon, latitude 45° 54', longitude 179° 29' E.On the 15th, a.m. the wind veered to the westward; the fog cleared away, but the weather continuedcloudy. At noon, latitude 47° 30', longitude 178° 19' W.; for, having passed the meridian of 180° E., I nowreckon my longitude west of the first meridian, viz. Greenwich. In the evening heard penguins, and thenext morning saw some sea or rock weed. At noon a fresh gale from the west and fine weather. Latitudeobserved 49° 33', longitude 175° 31' W.Next morning fresh gales and hazy weather; saw a seal and several pieces of weed. At noon, latitude 51°12', longitude 173° 17' W. The wind veered to the N. and N.E. by N., blew a strong gale by squalls, whichsplit an old topgallant sail, and obliged us to double-reef the top-sails; but in the evening the windmoderated, and veered to W.N.W., when we loosed a reef out of each top-sail; and found the variation ofthe compass to be 9° 52' E., being then in the latitude 51° 47', longitude 172° 21' W., and the next morning,the 18th, in the latitude of 52° 25', longitude 170° 45' W., it was 10° 26' E. Towards noon, had moderatebut cloudy weather, and a great swell from the west: Some penguins and pieces of sea-weed seen.On the 19th, steered E.S.E, with a very fresh gale at north, hazy dirty weather. At noon, latitude 53° 43',