James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 071

Remarkable Occurrences in the South Seas

Little wind & Calm & some Lightning a thing we have not seen for sometime past & therefore suppose not common in these Seas in high Latitudes Variation 5º.34'E.t ~

First part Calm, Middle light breezes, latter fresh breezes & hazey PM had several Azm.th all of which gave the Variation less than 4º East but they were a little doubtful on account of the rising of the Ship what winds we have had this day hath been from the Eastward & are the first we have had from that Quarter since we left the Latitude 58º.46'.

First & Middle parts fresh Gales & Cloudy with some rain, the Latter little wind & Cloudy.

First p.t Calm & light Airs, remainder very strong gales & Squally with Showers of rain which at length brought us under our two Courses & close reefd Maintopsail.

Firstpt. Strong Gales & Cloudy the remainder Gentle Breezes & clear wea.r PM set the topsl. & one Reef out a large swell from the SW.t

The formerpt. little wind & fine clear wear. The Air Full as warm as in the same Degree of Nº Latitude at the Corresponding Season of the Year the SW.t swells still keep up notwithstanding the Gale hath been over about 30 Hours, a proof of that there is no land near in that Quarter, the remainder part of this day fresh breezes & clear at 9AM took 3 Sets of Obser.n of the sun & moon  in order to find the Longde. of the Ship ~ 

Reasons for no land being near [Note left - margin]

Firstpt. fresh breezes, the remainder mod.te breezes & clear wea.r The result of the Forementioned Observ.on gives 110º.33W.t Long.de from Greenwich & exactly agrees with the Long.de given by the Log from Cape Horn. This Agreem.t  of the two Longdes after a Run of 660 Leagues is surprising & much more than could be expected, but as it is so, it serves to prove as well as the repeated trials we have made when the wea.r would permit that we have had no Curr.t that hath affected the Ship since we came into these Seas this must be a great Sign that we have been near no land of any extent because near land are generally found Currents, it is well known that on the Eastside of the Continent in the N.o Sea we meet with Currents above 100 Leag.s from the Land & even in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean between Africa & America are always found Currents & I can see no reason why Currents should not be found in this Sea supposing a Continent or lands lay not far West from us as some have immagind, [sic]& if such lands was ever seen we cannot be far from it as we are now 560 Leag.s W.t of the Coast of Chile ~ 

Formesp.t fresh gales & hazey with much rain the remainder a Strong fresh gale & & pretty clear w.r.

Firstp.t mod.te breezes, remainder calm & clear wea.r AM employ'd filling salt water in the Fore Hold & airing all the Spare Sails ~ 

Firstp.t Calm remainder a fine genteel breeze & clear wea.r ,Var.on per Azm.th & Ampl.d this Evening 2º.26'E.t. the SW swell still keeps up notwithstanding it hath been Calm 24 Hours.

First & Latter parts fine Clear wea.r the Middle fresh gales & Hazey with rain