The Error Of The Watch From Otaheite To This Place Was Only 43'
39" 1/2 In Longitude, Reckoning At
The rate it was found to go at, at that
island and at Tanna; but by reckoning at the rate
It was going when last at
Queen Charlotte's Sound, and from the time of our leaving it, to our return
to it again, which was near a year, the error was 19' 31", 25 in time, or
4 deg. 52' 48" 1/4 in longitude. This error cannot be thought great, if we
consider the length of time, and that we had gone over a space equal to
upwards of three-fourths of the equatorial circumference of the earth, and
through all the climates and latitudes from 9 deg. to 71 deg.. Mr Wales found its
rate of going here to be that of gaining 12",576, on mean time, per day.
The mean result of all the observations he made for ascertaining the
variation of the compass and the dip of the south end of the needle, the
three several times we had been here, gave 14 deg. 9' 1/5 east for the former;
and 64 deg. 36" 2/3 for the latter. He also found, from very accurate
observations, that the time of high-water preceded the moon's southing, on
the full and change days, by three hours; and that the greatest rise and
fall of the water was five feet ten inches, and a half; but there were
evident tokens on the beach, of its having risen two feet higher than ever
it did in the course of his experiments.
[1] According to Mr G.F. the sufferings of the crew, for want of
proper nourishment, were exceedingly distressing, and some of the
officers who had made several voyages round the world acknowledged,
that they had never before so thoroughly loathed a salt diet. It was
owing, he says, to their having such an excellent preservative as
sour-krout on board, that the scurvy did not at this time make any
considerable progress among them; but their situation was indeed
wretched enough, without the horrors of that disease. - E.
[2] "Several large broken rocks project into the sea from the island,
on all sides. A heap of large stones formed a kind of beach, beyond
which the shore rose very steep, and in some parts perpendicular. The
rocks of this island consisted of the common yellowish clayey stone,
which we found at New Zealand; and in some places we met with small
bits of porous reddish lava, which seemed to be decaying, but made us
suspect this island to have had a volcano. The vegetables which we
found upon it, throve with great luxuriance in a rich stratum of black
mould, accumulated during ages past, from decaying trees and plants.
The greatest number of species we met with were well known to us, as
belonging to the flora of New Zealand, but this appeared with all the
advantages which a milder climate, and an exuberant soil could give
them, and they were united with the productions of New Caledonia, and
the New Hebrides. Altogether this little deserted spot was very
pleasing, and were it larger would be unexceptionable for an European
settlement." - G.F.
Notwithstanding the diminutive size of this island, the advantages it
presented, especially as to the cultivation of the flax-plant, were
sufficient to induce the British government to erect a settlement on
it, which was effected by a detachment from Port Jackson under the
command of Lieutenant King in 1788. The reader who desires particular
information respecting its progress, will be amply supplied with it in
Collins's account of New South Wales. It may perhaps be sufficient to
inform him, that though in 1790 the colony consisted of 498 persons,
and in 1796, of 889, and though very great expence and pains were
employed to ensure its prosperity, yet every year's experience proved
that the expectations entertained of its importance and benefits were
vastly over-rated, and in consequence it was at last abandoned. In the
opinion of Collins, Van Diemen's island presents in every respect a
more advantageous spot for a settlement. - E.
[3] "They continued from time to time to ask if we were displeased
with them, and seemed to be very apprehensive that our present
protestations of friendship were not quite sincere. We suspected from
this circumstance, that a fatal misunderstanding had happened between
the natives and the crew of some European ship, and we naturally
thought of our consort the Adventure." - G.F.
[4] The natives were repeatedly questioned, and in every conversation
we discovered some additional circumstances, by which the fact was
more clearly established. At last, however, observing that our
enquiries on this subject were frequently repeated, they resolved to
give us no further trouble, and by threats stopped short one of their
own brethren, who had been prevailed upon to speak once more on the
subject. Captain Cook being very desirous of obtaining some certainty
concerning the fate of the Adventure, called Peeterre and another
native into the cabin, both of whom denied that any harm had been done
to the Europeans. We made two pieces of paper, to represent the two
ships, and drew the figure of the sound on a larger piece; then
drawing the two ships into the sound, and out of it again, as often as
they had touched at and left it, including our last departure, we
stopped a while, and at last proceeded to bring our ship in again: But
the natives interrupted us, and taking up the paper which represented
the Adventure, they brought it into the harbour, and drew it out
again, counting on their fingers how many moons she had been gone.
This circumstance gave us two-fold pleasure, since, at the same time
that we were persuaded our consort had safely sailed from hence, we
had to admire the sagacity of the natives. Still, however, there was
something mysterious in the former accounts, which intimated that some
Europeans were killed; and we continued to doubt whether we had
rightly understood this part of their conversation, till we received
more certain intelligence at our return to the Cape of Good Hope." -
G.F.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 226 of 235
Words from 229473 to 230519
of 239428
