In The Extent Which I Have Given To This Island, Is
Included The Broken Or Unconnected Lands To The N.
W. That they may be
connected; I shall not pretend to deny; we were, however, of opinion that
they were
Isles, and that New Caledonia terminated more to S.E.; though
this at most is but a well-founded conjecture.
But whether these lands be separate isles, or connected with New Caledonia,
it is by no means certain that we saw their termination to the west. I
think we did not; as the shoals did not end with the land we saw, but kept
their N.W. direction farther than Bougainville's track in the latitude of
15 deg. or 15 deg. 1/2. Nay, it seems not improbable, that a chain of isles, sand-
banks, and reefs, may extend to the west, as far as the coast of New South
Wales. The eastern extent of the isles and shoals off that coast, between
the latitude of 15 deg. and 23', were not known. The resemblance of the two
countries; Bougainville's meeting with the shoal of Diana above sixty
leagues from the coast; and the signs he had of land to the S.E.; all tend
to increase the probability. I must confess that it is carrying probability
and conjecture a little too far, to say what may lie in a space of two
hundred leagues; but it is in some measure necessary, were it only to put
some future navigator on his guard.
Mr Wales determined the longitude of that part of New Caledonia we
explored, by ninety-six sets of observations, which were reduced to one
another by our trusty guide the watch. I found the variation of the compass
to be 10 deg. 24' E. This is the mean variation given by the three azimuth
compasses we had on board, which would differ from each other a degree and
a half, and sometimes more. I did not observe any difference in the
variation between the N.W. and S.E. parts of this land, except when we were
at anchor before Balade, where it was less than 10 deg.; but this I did not
regard, as I found such an uniformity out at sea; and it is there where
navigators want to know the variation. While we were on the N.E. coast, I
thought the currents set to S.E. and W. or N.W. on the other side; but they
are by no means considerable, and may, as probably, be channels of tides,
as regular currents. In the narrow channels which divide the shoals, and
those which communicate with the sea, the tides run strong; but their rise
and fall are inconsiderable, not exceeding three feet and a half. The time
of high-water, at the full and change, at Balade, is about six o'clock; but
at Botany Isle we judged it would happen about ten or eleven o'clock.
[1] Mr G.F. very plainly avows his conviction that they were trees,
which on a prodigious tall stem had short and slender branches, not
discernible at a distance. Captain Cook, it is very evident, uses the
language of banter, not quite consistent with either the dignity of
his own character, or the respect due to even the mistaken opinion of
men of science. - E.
[2] "We were becalmed in the evening among the reefs, which surrounded
us on all sides, and made our situation dangerous, on account of the
tides and currents, as well as for want of anchoring-ground, having
sounded in vain with a line of 150 fathoms. At half past seven o'clock
we saw a ball of fire to the northward, in size and splendour
resembling the sun, though somewhat paler. It burst a few moments
after, and left behind it several bright sparks, of which the largest,
of an oblong shape, moved quickly out of our horizon, whilst a kind of
bluish flame followed, and marked its course. Some heard a hissing
noise, which accompanied the swift descent of this meteor. Our
shipmates expected a fresh gale after its appearance; having
frequently observed the same to ensue upon similar occasions. And in
fact, whatever may be the relation between this phenomenon, and the
motion of the atmosphere, or whether it was accident, their
predictions were verified the same night, when a brisk gale sprung up,
which settled at south." - G.F.
If the opinion of some philosophers as to the origin of these fire-
balls, be correct, viz. that they are produced by the combination of
animal or vegetable products suspended in the atmosphere, it is easy
to understand, how, the equilibrium of the atmosphere being destroyed
by the condensation, if one may so call it, of a large part of its
constituent principles, those meteors should be followed by
considerable gales or storms. Perhaps, indeed, this opinion best
explains all the circumstances of this phenomenon, and especially the
occurrence so constantly observed of such agitation. The subject,
however, is still involved in a good deal of difficulty, from which a
long and very accurate course of examination is requisite to deliver
it. Much has been effected in this respect, since the publication of
Forster's work; and there is no reason to doubt, that the application
of an improved chemistry to a careful comparison of all the authentic
relations of such phenomena, will issue in a satisfactory
solution. - E.
SECTION XI.
Sequel of the Passage from New Caledonia to New Zealand, with an Account
of the Discovery of Norfolk Island; and the Incidents that happened while
the Ship lay in Queen Charlotte's Sound.
The wind continuing at S.W., W.S.W., and W., blowing a fresh gale, and now
and then squalls, with showers of rain, we steered to S.S.E, without
meeting with any remarkable occurrence till near noon on the 6th, when it
fell calm. At this time we were in the latitude of 27 deg. 50' S., longitude
171 deg.
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