mon track
of ships, to the longitude of 288 deg. W., latitude 22 deg. S., after which it
increased apace, so that in longitude 295 deg., latitude 23 deg., the variation
was 10 deg. 20' W.: In seven degrees more of longitude, and one of latitude,
it increased two degrees; in the same space farther to the west, it
increased five degrees: In latitude 28 deg., longitude 314 deg., it was 24 deg.,
20', in latitude 29 deg., longitude 317 deg., it was 26 deg. 10', and was then
stationary for the space of about ten degrees farther to the west; but
in latitude 34 deg., longitude 333 deg., we observed it twice to be 28 deg. 1/4 W.,
and this was its greatest variation, for in latitude 35 deg. 1/2 longitude
337 deg., it was 24 deg., and continued gradually to decrease; so that off Cape
Anguillas it was 22 deg. 30', and in Table Bay 20 deg. 30' W.

As to currents, it did not appear that they were at all considerable,
till we came within a little distance of the meridian of Madagascar; for
after we had made 52 deg. of longitude from Java Head, we found, by
observation, that our error in longitude was only two degrees, and it
was the same when we had made only nineteen. This error might be owing
partly to a current setting to the westward, partly to our not making
proper allowances for the setting of the sea before which we run, and
perhaps to an error in the assumed longitude of Java Head. If that
longitude is erroneous, the error must be imputed to the imperfection of
the charts of which I made use in reducing the longitude from Batavia to
that place, for there can be no doubt but that the longitude of Batavia
is well determined. After we had passed the longitude of 307 deg., the
effects of the westerly currents began to be considerable; for, in three
days, our error in longitude was 1 deg. 5': The velocity of the current kept
increasing as we proceeded to the westward, in so much, that for five
days successively after we made the land, we were driven to the S.W. or
S.W. by W., not less than twenty leagues a-day; and this continued till
we were within sixty or seventy leagues of the Cape, where the current
set sometimes one way, and sometimes the other, though inclining rather
to the westward.

After the boobies had left us, we saw no more birds till we got nearly
abreast of Madagascar, where, in latitude 27 deg. 3/4 S., we saw an
albatross, and after that time we saw them every day in great numbers,
with birds of several other sorts