»774»
A ugust.
September.
Thurfday i.
volcanoes, their vegetables, and their inhabitants, would
■ provide iuilicient employment for a Ferber^, a Solander, and
many of the hiftorians of mankind.
We proceeded at prefent to the fouthward, and prepared
to crofs the South Sea in its greateft breadth towards the
extremity of America; and though our crew were much
weakened by living entirely upon fait meat in a hot climate,
-yet it was intended not to touch at any place by the w a y ;
a projeCt, which if it had been put in execution, would
doubtlefs have proved fatal to fome of them, whofe bad
conftitution would not prompt them to fupport fuch an ab-
ftinence. Fortunately, after (landing on the fame courfe for
three days, we fell in with a large land, which had never
been vifited by any European navigator before, and which
entirely altered the plan of our proceedings for the remaining
part of our flay in the South Seas.
■ * Mr. Ferber. is the firfl: and only man of fcience who has given us a truly
icientifical and mineralogical account of Vefuvius, which is worthy the attention of
• riiaturalifts. See his.Letters to baron Born, London, 1776.
C H A P ,
»774-
September.
c h a p . hi.
Difcmery of New Caledonia.— Account of our Jlay there.— Range
along the coajl to our departure.— Difcovery of Norfolk IJland.—
Return to New Zeeland.
ON the 4th of September, about feven in the morning, a Sunday*;
midfliipman at the maft-head difcovered land to the
fouth, extending a great way to the wellward, and likewife
to the fouth-eaftward. It appeared to be very high, and its
diftance from us was about eight leagues, being feen
through a haze, which made it appear farther off than it
really was. We had at this time little wind, though fair
weather, and therefore advanced flowly towards this new and
unexpected coaft. M. de Bougainville-takes notice of meeting
with a part of the fea which was entirely fmooth *, and
where feveral pieces of wood and fruits floated paft his (hip.
This was nearly to the N. W. of the land which we now difcovered,
and which, as an able and intelligent navigator, he
had conjeCtured to lie in that direction.
* See his Voyage, Eng. edition, pi 393.
VoL. II, C c c A calm