

1774 ROUND THE WORLD. <26\5 



was generally removed in a few days ; and at this 

 time we had not above one or two on the sick list. 



We proceeded N. E. by N. till the 6th, at noon. 

 Being then in the latitude 52 0' S., longitude 135 

 82' W., and about 200 leagues from our track to 

 Otaheite, in which space it was not probable, all cir- 

 cumstances considered, there is any extensive land ; 

 and it being still less probable any lay to the west, 

 from the great mountainous billows we had had, and 

 still continued to have from that quarter, I therefore 

 steered N. E. with a fresh gale at W. S. W. 



At eight o'clock in the morning on the 7th, being 

 in the latitude of 50 49' south, we observed several 

 distances of the sun and moon, which gave the lon- 

 gitude as follows, viz. 



By Mr. Wales, 133 24' west. 



Gilbert, 133 10 



Clerke, 133 



Smith, 133 37 Kb" 



Myself, 133 37 



Mean, 

 By the watch, 

 My reckoning, 



Variation of the compass 6 2 east. 



Thermometer, 50 



The next morning we observed again ; and the re- 

 sults were agreeable to the preceding observations, 

 allowing for the ship's run. I must here take notice 

 that our longitude can never be erroneous, while we 

 have so good a guide as Mr Kendal's watch. This 

 day at noon we steered E. N. E. \ E. being then in 

 the latitude of 49 7' S., longitude 131 <T W. 



On the 9th, in the latitude of 48 17' S. longitude 

 127 10' W., we steered east with a fine fresh gale 

 at west, attended with clear pleasant weather, and a 

 great swell from the same direction as the wind. 



