Friday 23.
feen; fome cocoa nut trees were alfo obferved in the chafms of the rocky
precipices, but they did not feem now to flourifh in fuch abundance, as
was moft likely the cafe when their fruit gave a name to the ifland.
Being intirely without wind, the current fat us fall to the north-eaft-
ward from the land, which at noon bore by compafs from s. 17 w. to-
s'. 35 w., diftant 7 or 8 miles. The weather at this time afforded us a
good opportunity for afcertaining the {hip's place, which by feveral cor-
re£f obfervations was found to be in latitude jp 40', longitude 2730 8'.
By thefe and other obfervations that had been made on the 20th, the
fhip appeared to have been fet by the current during the two days 6q
miles, in a dire&ion n. 50 e.; this (hewed that the ifland, which we did
not confider. to be more than moderately high, when fi-rft feen was upwards
of 20 leagues diftant.
In the morning as we were driving near to the fhores of the ifland, fome
falls of water were obferved defcending from the cliffs into the fea, and as.
we flood much in want of this neceffary article as more of our cafks were
found to have leaked out, no fmall degree of impatience was experienced
for the return of the boat, as her long abfence had been attributed
to want of fuccefs in finding a fa-fe place for anchorage. This however
did not prove to be the cafe, for her fuppofed detention was wholly oc~
eafioned by the great diftance to which the current had fet the fhip from
the ifland. About four o’clock I had the fatisfaftion of being informed
by Mr. Whidbey, that the fhores abounded with ftreams and falls of moft
excellent water, together with fome cocoa nuts, and plenty of wood for
fuel,: eafily to be procured ; efpecially in two fmall bays,, both of which
afforded anchorage fufficiently fheltered from the prevailing winds at this
feafon of the year; the one on the north-eaft, the other on the north-weft
part of the ifland. Mr. Whidbey gave the preference to the moft eaft-
ern, for which, therefore, with a light breeze from the north, we immediately
fleered, but were unable to ftem the current till about nine at
night, when the wind frefhened from the n. e. ; and with this, about four
on ffiday morning, we reached the fituation Mr. Whidbey had chofen, and
moored in 33 fathoms water, fandy and gravelly bottom, and (fo far as
we became acquainted,) good holding ground, and free from rocks* The
eaft
eaft point of the bay, which is a fmall conical iflet lying clofe to the ja’n7u9a^,
north-eaft extremity of the ifland, bore by compafs s. 51 e., diftanthalf 1----v 1
a mile ; the weft point of the bay s. 75 w .; a fteep rocky iflet lying off it
bore from s. 87 w. to N. 66 w . ; -and the watering place at the mouth of
a very fine ftream emptying itfelf over a fandy beach, s. 13 w., about
three quarters of a mile diftant; the Chatham moored within us in 2S
fathoms water, on the fame kind of bottom.
As foon as the fhip was .fecured I went on fliore,' and found that all
our wants could be eafily fupplied ; that, although there was fome furf
on the beach it was inconfiderable, and that not only water and firewood,
but that cocoa-nuts were alfo to be procured in great abundance-
No time was now loft in fetting about obtaining 'a due fupply of thefe
effential articles, and in the performing fuch other bufinefs as had.become
requifite. on board; where, at noon, by the mean of fqur Obfervations,
with different perfons and inftruments, the latitude' was (hewn to be 5“'
gg'i 1 This differing fo materially from ther latitude as ftated in Lord'
Anfon’s and other voyages; and the general appearance of this ifland fo
little correfpooding with the defcriptioh given of the ifland of Cocos,
efpecially by Dampier, and Wafer, gave rife to fome doubts in my mind
as to its being the identical ifland fo defcribed byfthofe gentlemen. Be
that as- it may, the advantages it afforded us,1 not only in the articles
already mentioned, but in an abundance of very fine fifli,‘. were very-
important; and as the foil was apparently capabkf'of affording a variety
of ufeful vegetables, this ifland did not fail to attraft our particular attention
; and being anxious to acquire eyery information fefpe&ing. it.
that the {hortftay I purpofed to make would allow bf,. I difpatc-hed.Mr-
Whidbey on faturday morning, in the large cutter, to take a Ik etch of Saturday 2«
its fhores. This fervice he performed, and returned about four in the afternoon,
having found them to be compofed of fteep perpendicular, rocky
cliffs, with fome iflets and rocks lying- near them g on which the fea
broke with fo much violence as to preclude any attempt- to land in any
part, excepting in the bay to the weftward of the anchorage we had
taken, where Mr. Whidbey had- been- before, and in that in which the vef-'
Pels were moored.; which were the only two fltuations on the ifland to which
veffels