Towards New Holland.'] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
45 
binnacle with two compasses ; the ship's head was south (magnetic), isoi. 
and the variation found to be 2,6° 1 3' west ; and in default of observa- Thursday 6 5, 
tions on shore, I consider this to have been the true variation at the 
Cape of Good Hope in 1801. 
During our run across the Agulhas Bank, I did not find any 
current setting to the westward; but in the five days taken to reach 
the latitude 36° go' and longitude 33 0 38', the ship was set 59' to the Tuesday 10. 
north of the reckoning. The swell which followed after the ship 
probably counteracted the effect of the usual westwardly current ; 
and indeed it must have done something more, if our log were cor- 
rect, since the longitude by time keepers was then 30' a-head of 
account. 
I considered the parallel of 37 0 south, at this season of the 
year, to be sufficiently distant from the verge of the south-east trade 
to insure a continuance of western winds ; and to be far enough to 
the north, to avoid the gales incident to high latitudes. Having 
made this passage three times before, I was satisfied of the impro- 
priety of running in a high southern latitude, particularly when the 
sun is in the other hemisphere, and there is nothing else in view 
than to make a good passage ; not only from the winds there being 
often stronger than desired, but because they will not blow so 
steadily from the westward. In the latitude of 42*, I have experienced 
heavy gales from the north, and from the south, and even from the 
eastward, in the months of June and July ; allowances for lee way 
were also frequent in that passage, and light winds or calms not 
uncommon. The parallel of 42° seems to be a very proper one, 
when the sun is in his highest south declination, and from that time 
until the middle of February ; but in the opposite months of the year, 
I should prefer to run down my easting two or three degrees even 
to the northward of what was now chosen for the Investigator. 
It may not be improper to anticipate upon the voyage so far 
as to state what was the result of keeping in the parallel of 37°, in 
the month of November. From the Cape of Good Hope to the 
vol. I, K k 
