After leaving Easter Island, I steered N.W. by N. and N.N.W., with a fine easterly gale, intending to touch at the Marquesas, if I met with nothing before I got there.  We had not been long at sea, before the bilious disorder made another attack upon me, but not so violent as the former.  I believe this second visit was owing to exposing and fatiguing myself too much at Easter Island.

On the 22d, being in the latitude of 19 deg. 20’ S., longitude 114 deg. 49’ W., steered N.W.  Since leaving Easter Island, the variation had not been more than 3 deg. 4’, nor less than 2 deg. 32’ E.; but on the 26th, at six a.m., in latitude 15 deg. 7’ S., longitude 119 deg. 45’ W., it was no more than 1 deg. 1’ E.; after which it began to increase.

On the 29th, being in the latitude of 10 deg. 20’, longitude 123 deg. 58’ W., altered the course to W.N.W., and the next day to west, being then in latitude 9 deg. 24’, which I judged to be the parallel of Marquesas; where, as I have before observed, I intended to touch, in order to settle their situation, which I find different in different charts.  Having now a steady settled trade-wind, and pleasant weather, I ordered the forge to be set up, to repair and make various necessary articles in the iron way; and the caulkers had already been some time at work caulking the decks, weather-works, &c.

1774 April

As we advanced to the west, we found the variation to increase but slowly; for, on the 3d of April, it was only 4 deg. 40’ E., being then in the latitude of 9 deg. 32’, longitude 132 deg. 45’, by observation made at the same time.

I continued to steer to the west till the 6th, at four in the afternoon, at which time, being in the latitude of 9 deg. 20’, longitude 138 deg. 14’ W., we discovered an island, bearing west by south, distant about nine leagues.  Two hours after we saw another, bearing S.W. by S., which appeared more extensive than the former.  I hauled up for this island, and ran under an easy sail all night, having squally unsettled rainy weather, which is not very uncommon in this sea, when near high land.  At six o’clock the next morning, the first island bore N.W., the second S.W. 1/2 W., and a third W. I gave orders to steer for the separation between the two last; and soon after, a fourth was seen, still more to the west.  By this time, we were well assured that these were the Marquesas, discovered by Mendana in 1595.  The first isle was a new discovery, which I named Hood’s Island, after the young gentleman who first saw it, the second was that of Saint Pedro, the third La Dominica, and the fourth St Christina.  We ranged the S.E..coast of La Dominica, without seeing the least signs of anchorage, till we came to the channel that divides it from St Christina, through which we passed, hauled over for the last-mentioned island, and ran along the coast to the S.W. in search of Mendana’s Port.  We passed several coves in which there seemed to be anchorage; but a great surf broke on all the shores.  Some canoes put off from these places, and followed us down the coast.