The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VII. Being the Third of the Third VoyageKing, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VII. Being the Third of the Third Voyage
King, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
As the Russian is the only nation that has hitherto navigated these
seas, all our information respecting the situation of the coast to the
northward of Cape North, must necessarily be derived from the charts and
journals of the persons who have been employed at various times, in
ascertaining the limits of that empire; and these are, for the most
part, so imperfect, so confused and contradictory, that it is not easy
to form any distinct idea of their pretended, much less to collect the
amount of their real discoveries. It is on this account, that the extent
and form of the peninsula, inhabited by the Tschutski, still remains a
point, on which the Russian geographers are much divided. Mr. Muller, in
his map, published in the year 1754, supposes this country to extend
toward the north-east, to the 75° of latitude, and in longitude 190°
east of Greenwich, and to terminate in a round cape, which he calls
Tschukotskoi Noss. To the southward of this cape he conceives the coast
to form a bay to the westward, bounded in latitude 67° 18ʹ, by Serdze
Kamen, the northernmost point seen by Beering in his expedition in the
year 1728. The map published by the Academy of St. Petersburg, in the
year 1776, gives the whole peninsula entirely a new form, placing its
north easternmost extremity in the latitude 73°, longitude 178° 30ʹ. The
easternmost point in latitude 65° 30ʹ, longitude 189° 30ʹ. All the other
maps we saw, both printed and in manuscript, vary between these two,
apparently more according to the fancy of the compiler, than on any
grounds of more accurate information. The only point in which there is a
general coincidence, without any considerable variation, is in the
position of the east Cape, in latitude 66°. The form of the coast, both
to the south and north of this cape, in the map of the academy, is
exceedingly erroneous, and may be totally disregarded. In that of Mr.
Muller, the coast to the northward bears a considerable resemblance to
our survey, as far as the latter extends, except that it does not trend
sufficiently to the westward; receding only about 5° of longitude,
between the latitude of 66° and 69°; whereas, in reality, it recedes
near ten. Between the latitude 69° and 74°, he makes the coast bend
round to the north and north-east, and to form a considerable
promontory. On what authority, now remains to be examined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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