# Captain Cook's Journal During His First Voyage Round the World/Chapter 7

CHAPTER VII.
PASSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND TO NEW HOLLAND.
Sunday, 1st April.—In the P.M. had a moderate breeze at E., which in the Night Veer'd to the N.E., and was attended with hazey, rainy weather. I have before made mention of our quitting New Zeland with an intention to steer to the Westward, which we accordingly did, taking our departure from Cape Farewell in the Latitude of 40° 30′ S. and Long. 185° 58′ W. from Greenwich, which bore from us at 5 p.m. W. 18° N., distance 12 Miles. After this we steer'd N.W. and W.N.W., in order to give it a good berth, until 8 o'Clock a.m., at which time we steered W., having the Advantage of a fresh Gale at N. by E. At Noon our Latitude by account was 40° 12′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 1° 11′ West.
Monday, 2nd.—In the P.M. had a moderate Gale at N., with thick hazey weather, attended with rain. At 8 it fell little wind, and Veer'd to W.S.W., at which time we Tack'd. At Midnight the wind came to S.S.W., and increased to a brisk gale with fair Cloudy weather, which we made the most of as soon as it was daylight. At Noon our Latitude, by Observation, was 40° 0′, and Long. made from Cape Farewell 2° 31′ W.
Tuesday, 3rd.—Cloudy weather; Winds at S.W. and S.S.W., a fresh Gale, with which we made our Course good N.W. by W., and distance run from Yesterday at Noon to this day at Noon 38½ Leagues. Latitude, by observation, 38° 56′ S.; Longitude made from Cape Farewell 4° 36′ W.
Wednesday, 4th.—Had a steady brisk Gale at S.S.W. with some flying showers of rain and large hollow Sea from the Southward. In the P.M. unbent the Maintopsail to repair, and brought another to the Yard and set it close reefed. At Noon our Lat., by Observa​tion, was 37° 56′ S.; Course and distance since Yesterday at Noon N. 60° W., 122 Miles; Long. made from Cape Farewell 6° 54′ W.
Thursday, 5th.—Fresh Gales at S., which in the A.M. veer'd to S.E. by S. At Noon our Lat. by observation, was 37° 23′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 9° 10′ W.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday at Noon N. 73° 15′ W., 37 Leagues.
Friday, 6th.—Winds between the S. by E. and S.E., with a Continued swell from the S.S.W. At Noon our Latitude in per Observation 37° 18′ S.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday at Noon N. 85° W., 58 Miles. Long. made from Cape Farewell 10° 35′ W.
Saturday, 7th.—Gentle breezes at N.E., which in the A.M. Veer'd to N.W. In the P.M. found the Varlation by the Mean of several Azimuths to be 13° 50′ E., being then in the Lat. of 37° 23′ S., and Long. 196° 44′ W. In the A.M. Punished Jno. Bowles, Marine, with 12 lashes for refusing to do his duty when order'd by the Boatswain's Mate and Serjeant of Marines. At Noon Lat. per Observation 37° 35′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 11° 34′ W.; Course and distance run since Yesterday noon S. 70° 15′ W., 50 Miles.
Sunday, 8th.—Gentle breezes from the N.W. and N. In the P.M. found the Variation to be 13° 56′ E. At Noon Lat. in per Observation 38° 0′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 13° 2′ W.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday noon S. 70° 15′ W., 74 Miles.
Monday, 9th.—Gentle breezes at N.W.; pleasant weather and a Smooth Sea. In the A.M. saw a Tropic Bird, which, I believe, is uncommon in such high Latitudes. At Noon Lat. observ'd 38° 20′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 14° 45′ W.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday noon S. 70° 15′ W., 86 Miles.
Tuesday, 10th.—Gentle breezes at N.W. by N., and clear settled weather. In the A.M. found the Variation, by the Amplitude, to be 11° 25′ E., and by Azimuth 11° 20′. At Noon the observed Lat. was 38° 51′ S., and Long. made from Cape Farewell 16° 45′; Long. in 202° 43′ W.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday noon S. 76° 45′ W., 96 Miles.
Wednesday, 11th.—Gentle breezes from the N.W., and pleasant weather, with some few showers of rain. In the A.M. found the Variation to be 13° 48′ E., which is 2½ degrees more than it was yesterday, altho' I should have expected to have found it less, for the observations were equally good. At Noon Lat. in 39° 7′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 17° 23′; and Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday noon S. 62° W., 34 Miles.
Thursday, 12th.—Calm, with now and then light Airs from the N.E. and N.W.; cloudy weather, but remarkably warm, and so it ​hath been for some days past. At Noon we were in the Lat. of 39° 11′, and Long. from Cape Farewell 17° 35′ W.; Course and distance sail'd since Yesterday noon S. 66° W., 10 Miles.
Friday, 13th.—Light Airs next to a Calm, with Clear pleasant weather; what little wind we had was from the N.W. quarter. In the Course of this day found the Variation to be 12° 27′ E., being at Noon, by observation, in the Lat. of 39° 23′ S., and Long. 204° 2′ W.; Course and distance since Yesterday noon S. 62° W., 26 Miles, and Long. made from Cape Farewell 18° 4′ W.
Saturday, 14th.—Calm serene weather, with sometimes light Airs from the Northward. At sun set found the Variation to be 11° 28′ E., and in the Morning to be 11° 30′ E. The Spritsail Topsail being wore to rags, it was condemn'd as not fit for its proper use, and Converted to repair the 2 Top Gallant Sails, they being of themselves so bad as not to be worth the Expence of new Canvas, but with the help of this sail may be made to last some time longer. At Noon Latitude in 39° 25′ S., Long. made from Cape Farewell 18° 21′ W.; Course and distance since Yesterday noon S. 18° W., 13 Miles.
Sunday, 15th.—In the P.M. had light Airs at N., which in the A.M. increased to a fresh Gale, with which we made the best of our way to the Westward, and by noon had run since yesterday upon a S. 86° 15′ W. Course, 79 Miles. Latitude in, by Observation, 39° 30′ S., and Long. made from Cape Farewell 20° 2′ W. Some flying fish seen this day.
Monday, 16th.—Fresh Gales at N.N.W., with Cloudy, hazey weather. In the P.M. saw an Egg Bird, and yesterday a Gannet was seen; these are Birds that we reckon never to go far from land. We kept the lead going all night, but found no soundings with 100 and 130 fathoms line. At noon we were in the Lat. of 39° 40′ S., and had made 22° 2′ of Longitude from Cape Farewell; course and distance sail'd since Yesterday at Noon S. 82° W., 108 Miles.
Tuesday, 17th.— At 2 p.m. the wind came to W.S.W., at which time we Tack'd and stood to the N.W. Before 5 o'Clock we were obliged to close reef our Topsails, having a Strong gale, with very heavy squalls; about this time a Small land bird was seen to pearch upon the rigging. We sounded, but had no ground with 120 fathoms of line. At 8 o'Clock we wore and stood to the Southward until 12 at Night, then wore and stood to the N.W. until 4 a.m., when we again stood to the Southward, having a fresh Gale at W.S.W., attended with Squalls and dark hazey unsettled weather until 9; at which time it fell little wind, and the weather soon after Clear'd up, which, a little after 11, gave us an Opportunity of taking several observations of the Sun and Moon, the Mean ​result of which gave 207° 56′ W. Long. from the Meridian of Greenwich. From these observations the Long. of the Ship at Noon was 207° 58′, and by the Log 208° 20′, the difference being only 22′; and this Error may as well be in the one as the other. Our Latitude at Noon was 39° 36′ S., the Long. made from Cape Farewell 22° 22′ W.
Wednesday, 18th.—Winds Southerly, a hard gale, with heavy squalls, attended with Showers of rain and a great Sea from the same Quarter. At 3 p.m. Close reeft the Topsails, handed the Main and Mizen Topsail, and got down Top Gallant Yards. At 6 the Gale increased to such a height as to oblige us to take in the Foretopsail and Mainsail, and to run under the Foresail and Mizen all night; Sounding every 2 hours, but found no ground with 120 fathoms. At 6 a.m. set the Mainsail, and soon after the Foretopsail, and before Noon the Maintopsail, both close reeft. At Noon our Latitude by observation was 38° 45′ S., Long. from Cape Farewell 23° 43′ W.; and Course and distance run since Yesterday noon N. 51° W., 82 Miles. Last night we saw a Port Egmont Hen, and this morning 2 More, a Pintado bird, several Albetrosses, and black sheer Waters. The first of these birds are Certain signs of the nearness of land; indeed we cannot be far from it. By our Longitude we are a degree to the Westward of the E. side of Van Diemen's Land, according to Tasman, the first discoverer's, Long. of it, who could not err much in so short a run as from this land to New Zeland; and by our Lat. we could not be above 50 or 55 Leagues to the Northward of the place where he took his departure from.