It Was No Wonder, Therefore, That,
Finding Themselves Thus Distressed, Captain Tasman Thought Of
Repairing To These Islands, Where He Was Sure Of Obtaining
Refreshments, Either By Fair Means Or Otherwise, Which Design,
However, He Did Not Think Fit To Put In Execution.
CHAPTER VII:
REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES IN THE VOYAGE.
On the 8th of January, being in the latitude of 30 degrees 25
minutes south, and in the longitude of 192 degrees 20 minutes, we
observed the variation of the needle to be 90 degrees towards the
east, and as we had a high rolling sea from the south-west, I
conjectured there could not be any land hoped for on that side. On
the 12th we found ourselves in 30 degrees 5 minutes south latitude,
and in 195 degrees 27 minutes of longitude, where we found the
variation 9 degrees 30 minutes to the east, a rolling sea from the
south-east and from the south-west. It is very plain, from these
observations, that the position laid down by Dr. Halley, that the
motion of the needle is not governed by the poles of the world, but
by other poles, which move round them, is highly probable, for
otherwise it is not easy to understand how the needle came to have,
as our author affirms it had, a variation of near 27 degrees to the
west, in the latitude of 45 degrees 47 minutes, and then gradually
decreasing till it had no variation at all; after which it turned
east, in the latitude of 42 degrees 37 minutes, and so continued
increasing its variation eastwardly to this time.
CHAPTER VIII: OBSERVATIONS ON, AND EXPLANATION OF, THE VARIATION OF
THE COMPASS.
On the 16th we were in the latitude of 26 degrees 29 minutes south,
and in the longitude of 199 degrees 32 minutes, the variation of the
needle being 8 degrees. Here we are to observe that the eastern
variation decreases, which is likewise very agreeable to Doctor
Halley's hypothesis; which, in few words, is this: that a certain
large solid body contained within, and every way separated from the
earth (as having its own proper motion), and being included like a
kernel in its shell, revolves circularly from east to west, as the
exterior earth revolves the contrary way in the diurnal motion,
whence it is easy to explain the position of the four magnetical
poles which he attributes to the earth, by allowing two to the
nucleus, and two to the exterior earth. And, as the two former
perpetually alter the situation by their circular motion, their
virtue, compared with the exterior poles, must be different at
different times, and consequently the variation of the needle will
perpetually change. The doctor attributes to the nucleus an
European north pole and an American south one, on account of the
variation of variations observed near these places, as being much
greater than those found near the two other poles. And he
conjectures that these poles will finish their revolution in about
seven hundred years, and after that time the same situation of the
poles obtain again as at present, and, consequently, the variations
will be the same again over all the globe; so that it requires
several ages before this theory can be thoroughly adjusted. He
assigns this probable cause of the circular revolution of the
nucleus that the diurnal motion, being impressed from without, was
not so exactly communicated to the internal parts as to give them
the same precise velocity of rotation as the external, whence the
nucleus, being left behind by the exterior earth, seems to move
slowly in a contrary direction, as from east to west, with regard to
the external earth, considered as at rest in respect of the other.
But to return to our voyage.
CHAPTER IX: DISCOVERS A NEW ISLAND, WHICH HE CALLS PYLSTAART
ISLAND.
On the 19th of January, being in the latitude of 22 degrees 35
minutes south, and in the longitude of 204 degrees 15 minutes, we
had 7 degrees 30 minutes east variation. In this situation we
discovered an island about two or three miles in circumference,
which was, as far as we could discern, very high, steep, and barren.
We were very desirous of coming nearer it, but were hindered by
south-east and south-south-east winds. We called it the Isle of
Pylstaart, because of the great number of that sort of birds we saw
flying about it, and the next day we saw two other islands.
CHAPTER X: AND TWO ISLANDS, TO WHICH HE GIVES THE NAME OF AMSTERDAM
AND ROTTERDAM
On the 21st, being in the latitude of 21 degrees 20 minutes south,
and in the longitude of 205 degrees 29 minutes, we found our
variation 7 degrees to the north-east. We drew near to the coast of
the most northern island, which, though not very high, yet was the
larger of the two: we called one of these islands Amsterdam, and
the other Rotterdam. Upon that of Rotterdam we found great plenty
of hogs, fowls, and all sorts of fruits, and other refreshments.
These islanders did not seem to have the use of arms, inasmuch as we
saw nothing like them in any of their hands while we were upon the
island; the usage they gave us was fair and friendly, except that
they would steal a little. The current is not very considerable in
this place, where it ebbs north-east, and flows south-west. A
south-west moon causes a spring-tide, which rises seven or eight
feet at least. The wind blows there continually south-east, or
south-south-east, which occasioned the Heemskirk's being carried out
of the road, but, however, without any damage. We did not fill any
water here because it was extremely hard to get it to the ship.
On the 25th we were in the latitude 20 degrees 15 minutes south, and
in the longitude of 206 degrees 19 minutes. The variation here was
6 degrees 20 minutes to the east; and, after leaving had sight of
several other islands, we made that of Rotterdam:
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