The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.Cook, James
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The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
The longitude of Cape Virgin Mary, which is the most essential point, as
it determines the length of the Straits of Magalhaens, is deduced from
Lord Anson, who made 2° 3ʹ difference of longitude between it and the
Strait Le Maire. Now as the latter lies in 65° 22ʹ, Cape Virgin Mary
must lie in 67° 52ʹ, which is the longitude I have assigned to it, and
which, I have reason to think, cannot be far from the truth.
The Strait of Magalhaens, and the east coast of Patagonia, are laid down
from the observations made by the late English and French navigators.
The position of the west coast of America, from Cape Victory northward,
I have taken from the discoveries of _Sarmiento_, a Spanish navigator,
communicated to me by Mr. Stuart, F. R. S.
Falkland islands are copied from a sketch taken from Captain M’Bride,
who circumnavigated them some years ago in his Majesty’s ship Jason; and
their distance from the main is agreeable to the run of the Dolphin,
under the command of Commodore Byron, from Cape Virgin Mary to Port
Egmont, and from Port Egmont to Port Desire; both of which runs were
made in a few days; consequently no material errors could happen.
The S. W. coast of Terra del Fuego, with respect to inlets, islands, &c.
may be compared to the coast of Norway; for I doubt, if there be an
extent of three leagues where there is not an inlet or harbour which
will receive and shelter the largest shipping. The worst is, that till
these inlets are better known, one has, as it were, to fish for
anchorage. There are several lurking rocks on the coast; but happily
none of them lie far from land, the approach to which may be known by
sounding, supposing the weather so obscure that you cannot see it. For
to judge of the whole by the parts we have sounded, it is more than
probable that there are soundings all along the coast, and for several
leagues out to sea. Upon the whole, this is by no means the dangerous
coast it has been represented.
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