BOOK IV.

FROM LEAVING NEW ZEALAND TO OUR RETURN TO ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

The Run from New Zealand to Terra del Fuego, with the Range from Cape Deseada to Christmas Sound, and Description of that Part of the Coast.

1774 November

At day-break on the 10th, with a fine breeze at W.N.W., we weighed and stood out of the Sound; and, after getting round the Two Brothers, steered for Cape Campbell, which is at the S.W. entrance of the Strait, all sails set, with a fine breeze at north.  At four in the afternoon, we passed the Cape, at the distance of four or five 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., distant sixteen or seventeen leagues; from which cape I, for the third time, took my departure.  After a few hours calm, a breeze springing up at north, we steered S. by E. all sails set, with a view of getting into the latitude of 54 deg. or 55 deg.; my intention being to cross this vast ocean nearly in these parallels, and so as to pass over those 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 deg. 13’ 30” S., longitude 176 deg. 41’ E.; an extraordinary fish of the whale kind was seen, which some called a sea monster.  I did not see it myself.  In the afternoon, our old companions the pintado peterels began to appear.

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 soon after saw a seal.  At noon, latitude, by account, 44 deg. 25’, longitude 177 deg. 31’ E. Foggy weather, which continued all the afternoon.  At six in the evening, the wind veered to N.E. by N., and increased to a fresh gale, attended with thick hazy weather; course steered S.E. 1/4 S.

On the 14th, a.m. saw another seal.  At noon, latitude 45 deg. 54’, longitude 179 deg. 29’ E.

On the 15th, a.m. the wind veered to the westward; the fog cleared away, but the weather continued cloudy.  At noon, latitude 47 deg. 30’, longitude 178 deg. 19’ W.; for, having passed the meridian of 180 deg.  E., I now reckon my longitude west of the first meridian, viz.  Greenwich.  In the evening heard penguins, and the next morning saw some sea or rock weed.  At noon a fresh gale from the west and fine weather.  Latitude observed 49 deg. 33’, longitude 175 deg. 31’ W.