The Land Now Before Us Could Be
No Other Than The West Coast 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 have been a little particular in noting
every circumstance that appeared in the least material:
And, after all, I
must observe, that I never made a passage any where of such length, or even
much shorter, where so few interesting circumstances occurred. For, if I
except the variation of the compass, I know of nothing else worth notice.
The weather had been neither unusually stormy nor cold. Before we arrived
in the latitude of 50 deg., the mercury in the thermometer fell gradually from
sixty to fifty; and after we arrived in the latitude of 55 deg., it was
generally between forty-seven and forty-five; once or twice it fell to
forty-three. These observations were made at noon.
I have now done with the southern Pacific Ocean; and flatter myself that no
one will think that I have left it unexplored; or that more could have been
done, in one voyage, towards obtaining that end, than has been done in
this.
Soon after we left New Zealand, Mr Wales contrived, and fixed up, an
instrument, which very accurately measured 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 deg..
This was on the 6th of this month, 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 deg.; and
this was under double-reefed top-sails and courses.
On the 18th, at three in the morning, we sounded again, and found one
hundred and ten fathoms, the same bottom as before. We now made sail with a
fresh gale at N.W., and steered S.E. by E. along the coast. It extended
from Cape Deseada, which bore north 7 deg. east, to E S.E.; a pretty high
ragged isle, which lies near a league from the main, and S., 18 deg. E. six
leagues E. from Cape Deseada, bore N. 49 deg. E. distant four leagues; and it
obtained the name of Landfall. At four o'clock, we were north and south of
the high land of Cape Deseada, distant about nine leagues; so that we saw
none of the low rocks said to lie off it. The latitude of this Cape is
about 53 deg. S., longitude 74 deg. 40' west.
Continuing to range the coast, at about two leagues distance, at eleven
o'clock we passed a projecting point, which I called Cape Gloucester. It
shews a round surface of considerable height, and has much the appearance
of being an island.
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