weather, remainder dark and Cloudy. In the P.M. found the Variation per several Azimuths, and the Amplitude to be 15° 10′ E., and by the Amplitude in the morning to be 15° 56′ E. Stood to the S.E. until 8 a.m., then tack'd and stood to the N.W.; but it soon after fell Calm, and continued so until noon, when by our account we were in the Lat. of 47° 6′ S., and had made 12 Miles Easting since Yesterday at Noon.
Thursday, 8th.—Light Airs next to a Calm from S.S.E. to N.E., with which we kept Steering to the S.W., but made but little way because of a swell which took us right ahead. At daylight A.M. we saw, or thought we saw, from the Masthead, the land which we have left to the Northward of us joined to that to the S.W. of us; and at the same time we imagined we saw the land extend to the Southward as far as S.S.W.; but after steering this Course until noon we discovered our Mistake, for there was no land to be seen to the Southward of W., which Course we now steer'd, being by observation in the Lat. of 47° 12′; Long. made from Cape Saunders 2° 2′ W.
Friday, 9th.—P.M. Winds at N., a Gentle breeze and Clear weather. Stood to the Westward until sunset, at which time the Extreams of the land bore from N. by E. to W., distant about 7 or 8 Leagues; Depth of Water 55 fathoms; Variation by the Amplitude 16° 29′ E. The wind now veer'd to the Westward, and as the weather was fine and Moonlight we kept standing close upon a Wind to the S.W. all night. At 4 a.m. Sounded, and had 60 fathoms; at daylight we discover'd under our lee bow Ledges of Rocks, on which the Sea broke very high, extending from S. by W. to W. by S., and not above ¾ of a Mile from us; yet upon sounding we had 45 fathoms, a Rocky bottom. The wind being at N.W. we could not weather the Ledge, and as I did not care to run to leeward, we tackt and made a Trip to the Eastward; but the wind soon after coming to the N. enabled us to go clear of all. Our soundings in passing within the Ledge was from 35 to 47 fathoms, a rocky bottom. This Ledge lies S.E., 6 Leagues from the Southermost part of the Land, and S.E. by S. from some remarkable hills which stand near the Shore. These rocks are not the only dangers that lay here, for about 3 Leagues to the Northward of them is another Ledge of Rocks, laying full 3 Leagues from the land, whereon the Sea broke very high. As we passed these rocks in the night at no great distance, and discover'd the others close under our Lee at daylight, it is apparent that we had a very fortunate Escape. I have named them the Traps, because they lay as such to catch unweary Strangers.[1] At Noon our Lat. per obser-
- ↑ The dangerous Traps lie south and east of the South Island of New Zealand. The Endeavour had now at last got to the southward of the land. There is a small but high rock farther south, the Snares, that Cook did not sight this voyage.
