18 cook's first voyage march, 



eleven at night, and then brought to, having sixty- 

 four fathom. At four in the morning, we made sail 

 to the N. E. with a light breeze at S. S. W. which at 

 eight veered to the westward, and soon after died 

 away ; at this time we were within three or four miles 

 of the land, and had fifty-four fathom, with a large 

 swell from the W. S. W. rolling obliquely upon the 

 shore, which made me fear that I should be obliged 

 to anchor ; but by the help of a light air now and 

 then from the S. W. I was able to keep the ship from 

 driving. At noon, the northermost land in sight bore 

 N. E. by E. E. distant about ten leagues ; our lati- 

 tude, by account, was 40 55' S. longitude from 

 Cape West 6 35' E. From this time we had light 

 airs from the southward, with intervals of calm, till 

 noon on the 23d, when our latitude, by observation, 

 was 40 36' 30" S. and our longitude from CapeWest 

 6 52' E. The eastermost point of land in sight bore 

 E. 10 N. at the distance of seven leagues, and a bluff 

 head or point, of which we had been abreast at noon 

 the day before, and off which lay some rocks above 

 water, bore S. 18 W. at the distance of six leagues. 

 This point 1 called Rock's Point. Our latitude was 

 now 40 55' S., and having nearly run down the 

 whole of the north-west coast of Tovy Poenammoo, 

 I shall give some account of the face of the country. 

 I have already observed, that on the 11th, when 

 we were off the southern part, the land then seen was 

 craggy and mountainous, and there is great reason to 

 believe that the same ridge of mountains extends 

 nearly the whole length of the island. Between the 

 westermost land which we saw that day, and the 

 eastermost which we saw on the 13th, there is a space 

 of about six or eight leagues, of which we did not see 

 the coast, though we plainly discovered the mountains 

 inland. The sea-coast near Cape West is low, rising 

 with an easy and gradual ascent to the foot of the 

 mountains, and being in most parts covered with 

 wood. From Point Five Fingers, down to latitude 



17 



