The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.Cook, James
History
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
At this time we had a great swell from the S., an indication that no
land was near us in that direction; nevertheless, the vast quantity of
snow on that in sight, induced us to think it was extensive, and I chose
to begin with exploring the northern coast. With this view we bore up
for Willis’s Island, all sails set, having a fine gale at S. S. W. As we
advanced to the N., we perceived another isle lying east of Willis’s,
and between it and the main. Seeing there was a clear passage between
the two isles, we steered for it, and at five o’clock, being in the
middle of it, we found it about two miles broad.
Willis’s Isle is a high rock of no great extent, near to which are some
rocky islets. It is situated in the latitude of 54° S., longitude 38°
23ʹ W. The other isle, which obtained the name of Bird Isle, on account
of the vast number that were upon it, is not so high, but of greater
extent, and is close to the N. E. point of the main land, which I called
Cape North.
The S. E. coast of this land, as far as we saw it, lies in the direction
of S. 50° E., and N. 50° W. It seemed to form several bays or inlets;
and we observed huge masses of snow, or ice, in the bottoms of them,
especially in one which lies ten miles to the S. S. E. of Bird Isle.
After getting through the passage, we found the north coast trended E.
by N. for about nine miles; and then E. and E. southerly to Cape Buller,
which is eleven miles more. We ranged the coast, at one league distance,
till near ten o’clock, when we brought to for the night, and, on
sounding, found fifty fathoms, a muddy bottom.
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