1773* ROUND THE WORLD. Q55 



CHAP. VI. 



ROUTE OF THE SHIP FROM NEW ZEALAND IN SEARCH OF A 

 CONTINENT. WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS OB- 

 STRUCTIONS MET WITH FROM THE ICE, AND THE METHODS 

 PURSUED TO EXPLORE THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN. 



At eight o'clock in the evening of the 26th, we 

 took our departure from Cape Palliser, and steered 

 to the south, inclining to the east, having a favour- 

 ble gale from the north-west and south-west, we 

 daily saw some rock-weed, seals, Port-Egmont hens, 

 albatrosses, pintadoes, and other peterels ; and on the 

 2d of December, being in the latitude of 48 23' S., 

 longitude 179 l& W. we saw a number of red-billed 

 penguins, which remained about us for several days. 

 On the 5th, being in the latitude 50 17' S. longitude 

 179 40' E., the variation was 18 25' E. At half an 

 hour past eight o'clock the next evening, we reckoned 

 ourselves antipodes to our friends in London; conse- 

 quently, as far removed from them as possible. 



On the 8th, being in latitude 55 39', longitude 

 178 53' W. we ceased to see penguins and seals, and 

 concluded that those we had seen retired to the 

 southern parts of New Zealand, whenever it was ne- 

 cessary for them to be at land. We had now a strong 

 gale at north-west and a great swell from south-west. 

 This swell we got as soon as the south point of New 

 Zealand came in that direction ; and as we had had no 

 wind from that quarter the six preceding days, but, on 

 the contrary, it had been at east, north, and north- 

 west, I conclude there can be no land to the south- 

 ward, under the meridian of New Zealand, but what 

 must lie very far to the south. The two following 



