1770.
Monday, January 1st.—P.M., fresh breezes at S.W. by S. and Squally, the remainder moderate breezes at S.W. by S. and S.W. clear weather. At 7 p.m. Tack'd and stood to the Westward. At this time Mount Camel bore N. 83° E. and the Northermost land or Cape Maria Van Diemen N. by W., being distant from the Nearest Shore 3 Leagues; in this sinuation had 40 fathoms Water.
Note.—Mount Camel doth not appear to lay little more than a Mile from the Sea on this Side[1] and about the same distance on the other, so that the land here cannot be above 2 or 3 Miles broad from Sea to Sea, which is what I computed when we were in Sandy Bay on the other side of the Coast. At 6 a.m. Tack'd and Stood to the Eastward, the Island of the 3 Kings N.W. by N. At Noon Tack'd again and stood to the Westward, being in the Latitude of 34° 37′ S.; the Island of the 3 Kings bore N.W. by N., distant 10 or 11 Leagues; and Cape Maria Van Diemen N. 31 E., distant 4½ Leagues; in this situation had 54 fathoms. I cannot help thinking but what it will appear a little strange that at this season of the Year we should be 3 Weeks in getting 10 Leagues to the Westward and 5 Weeks in getting 50 Leagues, for so long it is since we pass'd Cape Brett; but it will hardly be credited that in the midst of Summer and in the Latitude of 35° S. such a Gale of wind as we have had could have hapned which for its Strength and Continuance was such as I hardly was ever in before. Fortunately at this time we were a good distance from land, otherwise it would have proved fatal to us.[2]
Tuesday, 2nd.—Fresh breezes at S.S.W. and W. accompanied with a rowling Sea from the S.W. At 5 p.m. the wind Veering to the Westward we Tack'd and Stood to the Southward. At this time the North Cape bore E. ¾ N. and was just open of a point that lies 3 Leagues W. by S. from it, being now well assured that it is the Northermost Extremity of this Country and is the East point of a Peninsula which Stretches out N.W. and N.W. by N. 17 or 18 Leagues, and as I have before observed is for the most part low and narrow except its Extremity where the land is Tollerable high and Extends 4 or 5 Leagues every way. Cape Maria Van Diemen is the West point of the Peninsula and lies in the Latitude of 34° 30′ S.; Long. 187° 18′ West from Greenwich.[3]
- ↑ It is, in fact, about six miles, but the coast in front is so low that the mistake in estimation is very natural.
- ↑ The north point of New Zealand is celebrated for bad weather.
- ↑ This is extraordinarily accurate, seeing that the ship was never close to the Cape, and the observations were all taken in bad weather. The latitude is exact, and the longitude is only three miles in error. The persistence with which Cook clung to this point until he could resume his exploration and examination of the coast is very characteristic of the man. He would not willingly miss a mile of it, nor did he.
