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

Two hours after, we made the land, extending from N.E. by N. to E. by S. about six leagues distant. On thisdiscovery, we wore and brought-to, with the ship's head to the south; and having sounded, found seventyfivefathoms water, the bottom stone and shells. The land now before us could be no other than the westcoast of Terra del Fuego, and near the west entrance to the Straits of Magalhaens.As this was the first run that had been made directly across this ocean, in a high southern latitude,[2] I havebeen a little particular in noting every circumstance that appeared in the least material: and, after all, I mustobserve, that I never made a passage any where of such length, or even much shorter, where so fewinteresting circumstances occurred. For, if I except the variation of the compass, I know of nothing elseworth notice. The weather had been neither unusually stormy nor cold. Before we arrived in the latitude of50°, the mercury in the thermometer fell gradually from sixty to fifty; and after we arrived in the latitude of55°, it was generally between forty-seven and forty-five; once or twice it fell to forty-three. Theseobservations were made at noon.[2] It is not to be supposed that I could know at this time, that the Adventure had made the passagebefore me.I have now done with the southern Pacific Ocean; and flatter myself that no one will think that I have left itunexplored; or that more could have been done, in one voyage, towards obtaining that end, than has beendone in this.Soon after we left New Zealand, Mr Wales contrived, and fixed up, an instrument, which very accuratelymeasured the angle the ship rolled, when sailing large and in a great sea; and that in which she lay down,when sailing upon a wind. The greatest angle he observed her to roll was 38°. This was on the 6th of thismonth, when the sea was not unusually high; so that it cannot be reckoned the greatest roll she had made.The most he observed her to heel or lie down, when sailing upon a wind, was 18°; and this was underdouble-reefed top-sails and courses.On the 18th, at three in the morning, we sounded again, and found one hundred and ten fathoms, the samebottom as before. We now made sail with a fresh gale at N.W., and steered S.E. by E. along the coast. Itextended from Cape Deseada, which bore north 7° east, to E S.E.; a pretty high ragged isle, which lies neara league from the main, and S., 18° E. six leagues E. from Cape Deseada, bore N. 49° E. distant fourleagues; and it obtained the name of Landfall. At four o'clock, we were north and south of the high land ofCape Deseada, distant about nine leagues; so that we saw none of the low rocks said to lie off it. Thelatitude of this Cape is about 53° S., longitude 74° 40' west.Continuing to range the coast, at about two leagues distance, at eleven o'clock we passed a projectingpoint, which I called Cape Gloucester. It shews a round surface of considerable height, and has much theappearance of being an island. It lies S.S.E. 1/2 E. distant seventeen leagues from the isle of Landfall. Thecoast between them forms two bays, strewed with rocky islets, rocks, and breakers. The coast appearedvery broken with many inlets; or rather it seemed to be composed of a number of islands. The land is verymountainous, rocky, and barren, spotted here and there with tufts of wood, and patches of snow. At noonCape Gloucester bore north, distant eight miles, and the most advanced point of land to the S.E., which wejudged to be Cape Noir, bore S.E. by S., distant seven or eight leagues. Latitude observed 54° 13' S.Longitude, made from Cape Deseada, 54' E. From Cape Gloucester, off which lies a small rocky island, thedirection of the coast is nearly S.E.; but to Cape Noir, for which we steered, the course is S.S.E., distant