248 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



high mountains, while we were ftanding to the 

 fouth fouth-weft, in order to try to hold our own 

 again ft the currents. 



We had j u ft completed the furvey of the weft 

 coaft of the two iflands, the eaft fide of which 

 Bougainville had explored, when he difcovered 

 them. 



The mofl eafterly and moft foutherly point 

 of Bougainville's Ifland is in the latitude of 

 7 4/ 50" fouth, and longitude of 153 18' 34" 

 cafr. 



Its north point, called Point Laverdi, is in la- 

 titude 5 34" fouth. and longitude 152 J'' eaft. 



The banks ct roral which v. c found in the 

 offing near Bougainville's Iiland, are in latitude 

 6 1 \ fouth, and longitude 152 2' eaft. 



The north-eaft point of Bouka Iiland is in 

 latitude 5 5' 36^ fouth, and longitude 152 9' 

 caft. 



1 he variation of the compafs, after having 

 gradually diminifhcd, was no more than y{ eaft. 



The currents along thefe coafts carried us 

 constantly :o the north-weft, at the rate of from 

 eight to ten miles a day. 



The thermometer did not rife above 22 , al- 

 though we were at a fmall diftancc from the 

 equator. 



fun-rife on the 16th we faw, bearing from 

 north i5caft, to north 22 30' eaft, at about 



three 



