July point Bingham. From point Lucan, in a direftion about N.w., lies a
—y— J narrow high ifland, about two miles and a quarter in length ; and between
its fputh-eaft point and point Lucan there are two fmall iflets, which render
that paflage not fo commodious for failing in and out of the port, as
that by which we had entered, being to the north of that ifland, between
it, and the weltern part of a duller of three fmall iflands, which extend
about two miles from the eaftern fide of the port. This channel is.
clear, free from danger, and is about a mile and a quarter in width, with
a tolerably fnug cove, juft within its north-weft point of entrance, where
we anchored, and remained during our flay. The high narrow ifland
affords great protedtion to the northern part of this port, which, oppo-
fite to that ifland, is about two miles and an half wide; but nearly in the
middle of the harbour, and oppofite the fouth point of the -ifland are
fome detached rocks; and at point Lucan, which is fituated from the
Ihip’s cove s. 23 E., four miles and an half dillant, the width of the harbour
is two miles, from whence it extends s. 36 s., about 2 leagues,: and
terminates in a bafon, that affords good and fecure anchorage, the
heft paflage into which is on the eaftern (hore. The cove in which the
fhips were ftationed afforded good anchorage alfo, but it was not fo
well Iheltered as the bafon, nor was there any freftr water in it that
could eafily be procured ; a difadvantage.that can be readily done away
by reforting to a ftream of excellent water clofe at hand, on the eaftern
Ihpre, where our calks were filled in the boat. The furrounding country
is chiefly compofed of a rugged rocky fubftance, covered with a foreft,
confifting in general of pine trees ; and where the fteep acclivities do not
forbid their growth, they were feen down to the water’s edge-
The weather, for the moft part, during our continuance in port was
boifterous, rainy, and unpleafant, which allowed but few opportunities
for making aftronomical obfervations. The refults, however, of fuch as
' we were enabled to procure, are as follow: (viz.)
On the 1 2th of july, in Crofs found, the chronometers Ihewed the following
longitudes; (viz.) Arnold’s No. 14, 223-055'.; Arnold’s No. 176,
224°4j ; and Kendall’s, 224° 4-5-'. The true longitude being 2230 55', it
appeared
appeared that No. 14 was correct, and that No. 176 and Kendall’s were
each of them 9' 30" to the eaftward of the true longitude.
By twenty fets of obfervations, taken between the 12th
and 26th of july, Arnold’s No. 14'was found to be fall of
mean time at Greenwich at noon on the 26th, 411 29' 7''
And gaining, per day, at the rate of - 23
Arïiöld's NoMyB faft’ö f meantime, off the fame'day, 9 54.25'
Atuftgaifimg, pefid&y; at*the Fate o f - / "
Kendall's, IMl'of'irtea'n time;' oil ditto, - 8' 58 24
And gaming, per day; at’ thé" rate'óf - 25 8
The latitude of the place of obfervation, by three meridional
altitudes, - • -- - c8° 12'
The mean variation, by four compaffes and forty-four fets
of obfervations, differing from 27° 32' to 32° 42', Ihewed
the variation :to;bff' - - - •• MU
The vertical inclination o f the magnetic needle.
Marked end, NorthcFacefEaftj - - 7 9 ° 28' 20"
Ditto ditto Weft,. - 1 . 7g 36 40
Ditto South Face' Fall, - ~ 77 15
Ditto Ditto? Weftj- • - -• 79 gg
Mean inclination'of the magnetic neédlé, - 78 58'35
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