Aaguft. that we were not near any larSe land> and that there is no
t— -v— 1 continent to the South, unlefs in a very high latitude. But
this was too important a point to be left to opinions and
conje&ures. Fads were to determine it; and thefe could
only be obtained by vifiting the fouthern parts; which was
to be the work of the enfuing fummer, agreeably to the plan
I had laid down.
As the winds continued to blow from the N. W. and Weft,
we had no other choice but to Hand to the North, inclining
more or lefs every day to the Eaft. In the latitude of 21°,
Friday 6. we faw flying fifli, gannets and egg-birds. On the fixth,
I hoifted a boat out and fent for Captain Furneaux to dinner;
from whom I learnt that his people were much better, the
flux haying left them; and the fcurvy was at a Hand. Some
cyder which he happened to have, and which he gave to
the fcorbutic people, contributed mot a little to this happy
change. The weather to-day was cloudy, and the wind
very unfettled. This feemed to announce the approach of
the fo much wifhed-for trade-wind; which, at eight o’clock
in the evening, after two hours calm and fome heavy
fliowers of rain, we actually got at S. E. We were, at this
time, in the latitude of 190 36' South, longitude 131° 32'
Weft. The not meeting with the S. E. trade-wind fooner, is
no new thing in this fea. As we had now got it, I directed
my courfe to the W. N. W., as well to keep in the ftrengih
of it, as to get to the North of the iflands difcovered in my
former voyage; that, if any other iflands lay in the way, I
might have a chance to difcover them. During the daytime
we made all the fail we could; but, in the night, either
run an eafy fail, or lay to. We daily faw flying fifli, alba-
cores, dolphins, &c.; but neither by ftriking, nor with
hook
hook and line, could we catch any of J them. This req1 uired Anuguft. fome art which none of my people were matters of. —v~—j
On the nth at day-break, land was feen to the South. Wednef. n.
This, upon a nearer approach, we found to be an illand of
about two leagues in extent, in the direction of N. W. and
S. E., and clothed with wood, above which the ~ cocoa-nut
trees fhewed their lofty heads. I judged it to be one of
thofe ifles difcovered by Mr. Bougainville. It lies in the
latitude of 170 24', longitude 1410 39' Weft; and I called it
after the name of the fhip, Refolution Ifland. The fickly ftate
of the Adventure’s crew made it neceflary for me to make
the belt of my way to Otaheite, where I was fure of finding
refrefliments. Confequently, I did not wait to examine this
ifland, which appeared too fmall to fupply our wants, but
continued our courfe to the Weft; and, at fix o’clock in the
evening, land was feen from the maft-head, bearing weft by
fcruth. Probably this was another of Bougainville’s difco-
veries. I named it Doubtful Ifland; and it lies in the latitude
of 170 20', longitude 141° 38' W. I was forry I could
not fpare time to haul to the North of Mr. Bougainville’s'
track ; but the getting to a place where we could procure
refrefliments was more an object at this time t-han discovery
»
During the night we fleered W. by N., in order to pafs the' ThutWay 12,-
North of the ifland above mentioned. At day-break the
next morning, we difcovered land right a-head, diftant
about two miles; fo that day light advifedus of our danger
but juft in time. This proved another of thefe low or half-
drowned iflands, or rather a large coral flioal of about
twenty leagues in circuit. A very fmall part of it was land,
which confifted of little iflots ranged along the north fide,
and