*774*
December.
Saturday 17.
We fleered E. by N. and E. f N. all this day, under all
the fail we could carry, with a fine frelh gale at N. W.byW.,
in expectation of feeing the' land before n ight; but not
making it till ten o’clock, we took in the ftudding-fails,
top-gallant fails, and a reef in each top-fail, and fleered
E. N. E., in order to make fure of falling in with Cape
Defeada.
Two hours after, we made the land, extending from
N. E. by N. to E. by S. about fix leagues diftant. On this
difcovery, we wore and brought to, with the Ihip’s head to
the South; and having founded, found feventy-five fathoms
water, the bottom ftone and fhells. The land now
before us could be no other than the weft coaft of Terra del
Fuego, and near the weft entrance to the Straits of Ma-
galhaens.
As this was the firft run that had been made directly
acrofs this ocean, in a high fouthern latitude *, I have been
a little particular in noting every circumftance that appeared
in the leaft material: And, after all, I muft obferve
that I never made a paffagè, any where of fuch length, or
even much lhorter, where fo few interefting circumftances
occurred. For, if I except thé variation of the compafs, L
know of nothing elfe worth notice. The weather had been
neither unufually ftormy nor cold. Before we arrived in
the latitude of 50°, the mercury in the thermometer fell
gradually from fixty to fifty ; and after we arrived in the latitude
of 55°, it was generally between forty-feven and
forty-five; oncé or twice it fell to forty-three. Thefe obfer-
vations were made at noon.
I have now done with the Southern Pacific Ocean ; and
flatter myfelf that no one w ill think that I have left it unex-
* It is not to be fuppofe4 that I could
paffage before me.
know at this time, that the Adventure had .made the
ploredj
plored ; or that more could have been done, in one voy- De^ 4b'er
age, towards obtaining that end, than has been done in galurd^ 1„*
this.
Soon after we left New Zealand, Mr. Wales contrived,
and fixed up, an inftrument, which very accurately mea-
fured the angle the (hip rolled, when failing large and in a
great fe a ; and that in which flie lay down, when failing
upon a wind. The greateft angle he obferved her to roll
was 38°. This was on the 6th of this month, when the fea
was not unufually high ; fo that it cannot be reckoned the
greateft roll fhe had made. The moft he obferved her to
heel or lie down, when failing upon a wind, was x8°; and
this was under double-reefed top-fails and courfes.
On the 18th, at three in the morning, we founded again, Sunday 18.
and found one hundred and ten fathoms, the fame bottom
as before. We now made fail with a frefti gale at N. W., and
fleered S. E. by E. along the coaft. It extended from Cape
Defeada, which bore North 70 Eaft, to E. S, E.; a pretty high
ragged ille, which lies near a league from the main, and S.,
18° E. fix leagues from Cape Defeada, bore N. 490 E. diftant
four leagues; and it obtained the name of Landfall. At
four o’clock, we were North and South of the high land of
Cape Defeada, diftant about nine leagues; fo that we faw
none of the low rocks faid to lie off it. The latitude of this
Cape is about 53° S., longitude 740 40' Weft.
Continuing to range {he coaft, at about two leagues
diftance, at eleven o’clock we palled a projecting point,
which I called Cape Gloucefter. It fhews a round furface
of confiderable height, and has much the appearance of
being an illand. It lies S. S. E. 4 E, diftant feventeen leagues
Z a from