all Nations was not Omitted. Every one that could not prove upon the Sea Chart that he had before Crossed the Line was either to pay a Bottle of Rum or be Duck'd in the Sea, which former case was the fate of by far the Greatest part on board; and as several of the Men chose to be Duck'd, and the weather was favourable for that purpose, this Ceremony was performed on about 20 or 30, to the no small Diversion of the Rest. Wind S.E. to S.S.E.; course S. 31° W.; distance 77 m.; lat. 1° 21′ S., long. 30° 18′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, S.E. point, N. 25° 30 E., 385 leagues.
Thursday, 27th—Fresh Gales and Close Cloudy weather. Variation 2° 48′ W. Wind S.S.E. to S.E.; course S. 38° 15′ W.; distance 79 m.; lat. 2° 23′ S., long. 31° 7′ W.; at noon, Bonavista, S.E. point, N. 26° E., 410 leagues.
Friday, 28th—Fresh Breeze and fine Clear weather. At a little past 1 a.m. Long. in by the 3 following Observations—viz., by the Moon and the star Arietis, 32° 27′; by the Moon and Pollux, 32° 0′ 15″; by ditto, 31° 48′ 32″; the mean of the whole is 32° 5′ 16″ W. from Greenwich, which is 31′ more Westerly than the longitude by account carried on since the last Observation. The two first observations were made and computed by Mr. Green, and the last by myself. The star Arietis was on one side of the Moon and Pollux on the other. This day at Noon, being nearly in the latitude of the Island Ferdinand Noronha, to the Westward of it by some Charts and to the Eastward by others, was in Expectation of seeing it or some of those Shoals that are laid down in most Charts between it and the Main; but we saw neither one nor a Nother. We certainly passed to the Eastward of the Island, and as to the Shoals, I don't think they Exhist, grounding this my Opinion on the Journal of some East India Ships I have seen who were detain'd by Contrary winds between this Island and the Main, and being 5 or 6 Ships in Company, doubtless must have seen some of them did they lay as Marked in the Charts.[1] Wind S.E. to S.E. by E.; course S. 33° W.; distance 93 m., lat. 3° 41′ S., long. 32° 29′ W.
Saturday, 29th—Fresh Breezes and pleasant weather. Variation of the Compass 2° 25′ W. Wind E.S.E.; course S. by W.; distance 101 m.; lat. 5° 25′ S., long. 32° 48′ W.
Sunday, 30th—A Steady breeze, and for the most part close cloudy weather. Variation by several Azimuths 1° 31′ W. At noon the observed lat. 7 m. southward of account. Wind E.S.E.; course S. ¾ W.; distance 107 m.; lat. 7° 8′ S., long. 33° 4′ W.
Monday, 31st—A Fresh breeze and Clear weather. Variation 0° 15′ W. Observed Latitude again to the Southward of the Log.
- ↑ There is a very dangerous reef, As Rocas, 80 miles west of Fernando Noronha. The Endeavour passed 60 miles east of latter.
