On This, As Also On The S.E. Side,
Is A Sandy Beach; Whereas Most Of The Other Shores Are Bounded By Rocky
Cliffs, Which Have Twenty And Eighteen Fathoms Water Close To Them:
At
least so we found it on the N.E. side, and with good anchorage.
A bank of
coral sand, mixed with shells, on which we found from nineteen to thirty-
five or forty fathoms water, surrounds the isle, and extends, especially to
the south, seven leagues off. The morning we discovered the island, the
variation was found to be 13 deg. 9' E.; but I think this observation gave too
much, as others which we had, both before and after, gave 2 deg. less.[2]
After leaving Norfolk Isle, I steered for New Zealand, my intention being
to touch at Queen Charlotte's Sound, to refresh my crew, and put the ship
in a condition to encounter the southern latitudes.
On the 17th, at day-break, we saw Mount Egmont, which was covered with
everlasting snow, bearing S.E. 1/2 E. Our distance from the shore was about
eight leagues, and, on sounding, we found seventy fathoms water, a muddy
bottom. The wind soon fixed in the western board, and blew a fresh gale,
with which we steered S.S.E. for Queen Charlotte's Sound, with a view of
falling in with Cape Stephens. At noon Cape Egmont bore E.N.E. distant
three or four leagues; and though the mount was hid in the clouds, we
judged it to be in the same direction as the Cape; latitude observed 39 deg.
24'.
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