An Account of the Discovery of New Caledonia, and the Incidents that
happened while the Ship lay in Balade.
At sun-rise on the 1st of September, after having stood to S.W. all night,
no more land was to be seen. The wind remaining in the S.E. quarter, we
continued to stand to S.W. On the 2d, at five o'clock, p.m., being in the
latitude 18 deg. 22', longitude 165 deg. 26', the variation was 10 deg. 50' E.; and at
the same hour on the 3d, it was 10 deg. 51', latitude at that time 19 deg. 14',
longitude 165 deg. E. The next morning, in the latitude of 19 deg. 49' longitude
164 deg. 53", the amplitude gave 10 deg. 21', and the azimuths 10 deg. 7' E. At eight
o'clock, as we were steering to the south, land was discovered bearing
S.S.W., and at noon it extended from S.S.E. to W. by S., distant about six
leagues. We continued to steer for it with a light breeze at east, till
five in the evening, when we were stopped by a calm. At this time we were
three leagues from the land, which extended from S.E. by S. to W. by N.,
round by the S.W. Some openings appeared in the west, so that we could not
tell whether it was one connected land or a group of islands. To the S.E.
the coast seemed to terminate in a high promontory, which I named Cape
Colnett, after one of my midshipmen who first discovered this land.
Breakers were seen about half-way between us and the shore; and, behind
them, two or three canoes under sail, standing out to sea, as if their
design had been to come off to us; but a little before sun-set they struck
their sails, and we saw them no more.
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