At noon on the 22d, we were in latitude 11° 10’ S., longitude 240° 38’ W. In the evening of the 23d, we found the variation of the needle to be 2° 44’ W.; as soon as we got clear of the islands we had constantly a swell from the southward, which I imagined was not caused by a wind blowing from that quarter, but by the sea being so determined by the position of the coast of New Holland.

At noon on the 26th, being in latitude 10° 47’ S., longitude 249° 52’ W. we found the variation to be 3° 10’ W. and our situation to be twenty-five miles to the northward of the log; for which I know not how to account. At noon on the 27th, our latitude by observation was 10° 51’ S. which was agreeable to the log; and out longitude was 252° 11’ W. We steered N.W. all day on the 28th, in order to make the and at noon on the 29th, our latitude by observation was 9° 31’ S., longitude 254° 10’ W.; and in the morning of the 30th, I took into my possession the log-book and journals, at least all I could find, of the officers, petty officers, and seamen, and enjoined them secrecy with respect to where they had been.

Voyaging Accounts