The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage

The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.

On the 6th, being the day after leaving Ulietea, at eleven oclock A.M. we saw land bearing N.W., which, upon a nearer approach, we found to be a low reef island about four leagues in compass, and of a circular form. It is composed of several small patches connected together by breakers, the largest lying on the N.E. part. This is Howe island, discovered by Captain Wallis, who, I think, sent his boat to examine it; and, if I have not been misinformed, found a channel through, within the reef, near the N.W. part. The inhabitants of Ulietea speak of an uninhabited island, about this situation, called by them Mopeha, to which they go at certain seasons for turtle. Perhaps this may be the same; as we saw no signs of 2inhabitants upon it. Its latitude is 16 46 South; longitude 154 8 West. From this day to the 16th, we met with nothing remarkable, and our course was West southerly; the winds variable from the North round by the East to S.W. attended with cloudy, rainy, unsettled weather, and a southerly swell. We generally brought to, or stood upon a wind, during night; and in the day made all the sail we could. About half an hour after sun-rise this morning, land was seen from the top-mast head, bearing N.N.E. We immediately altered the course and steering for it, found it to be another reef island, composed of five or six woody islets, connected together by sand banks and breakers, inclosing a lake, into which we could see no entrance. We ranged the West and N.W. coasts, from its southern to its northern extremity, which is about two leagues; and so near the shore, that at one time we could see the rocks under us; yet we found no anchorage, nor saw we any signs of inhabitants. There were plenty of various kinds of birds, and the coast seemed to abound with fish. The situation of this isle is not very distant from that assigned by Mr. Dalrymple for La Sagitaria, discovered by Quiros; but, by the description the discoverer has given of it, it cannot be the same. For this reason, I looked upon it as a new discovery, and named it Palmerston Island, in honour of Lord Palmerston, one of the Lords of the Admiralty. It is situated in latitude 18 4 South, longitude 163 10 West. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 61492
Author: Cook, James
Release Date: Feb 23, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Contributor (Author): Forster, Georg, 1754-1794