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
Tarcinska harbour is about three miles in breadth, and twelve in length;
it stretches to the east-south-east, and is separated from the sea, at
the bottom, by a narrow neck of land. The road into this harbour is
perfectly free from rocks or shoals. We had never less than seven
fathoms’ water, as far as our survey extended; for we were not able to
get to the bottom of the harbour on account of the ice.
The harbour of Rakoweena would deserve the preference over the other
two, if its entrance were not impeded by a shoal lying in the middle of
the channel, which, in general, will make it necessary to warp in,
unless there be a leading wind. It is from one mile to half a mile in
width, and three miles long, running at first in a south-east, and
afterward in an easterly direction. Its depth is from thirteen to three
fathoms.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s is one of the most convenient little
harbours I ever saw. It will hold conveniently half a dozen ships,
moored head and stern, and is fit for giving them any kind of repairs.
The south side is formed by a low sandy neck, exceedingly narrow, on
which the _ostrog_ is built, and whose point may almost be touched by
ships going in, having three fathoms’ water close in with it. In the
mid-channel, which is no more than two hundred and seventy-eight feet
across, there are six fathoms and a half; the deepest water within is
seven fathoms; and in every part over a muddy bottom. We found some
inconvenience from the toughness of the ground, which constantly broke
the messenger, and gave us a great deal of trouble in getting up the
anchors. There is a watering-place at the head of the harbour.
The plan will likewise point out the shoal that is to be avoided, lying
off the eastern harbour, as well as the spit within the entrance,
stretching from the south-west shore, and over which there is only three
fathoms’ water. In order to steer clear of the latter, a small island,
or perhaps it may rather be called a large detached rock, lying on the
west shore of the entrance, is to be shut in with the land to the south
of it; and, to steer clear of the former, the Three Needle Rocks, which
lie on the east shore of the entrance near the light-house head, are to
be kept open with the head-lands (or bluff heads) that rise to the
northward of the first small bay, or bending, observable on the east
side of the entrance. When arrived to the north of the north head-land
of the eastern harbour, the shoal is past.
In sailing into the harbour of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and
approaching the village, it is necessary to keep in close to the eastern
shore, in order to avoid a spit, which runs from the head-land to the
south-west of the town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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