minutes west
longitude. In Captain Cook's general map, prefixed to his last voyage, it
is placed in the same latitude but in 15 degrees west longitude. From our
track and the clearness of the weather I am convinced, if the latitude
ascribed to it as above is correct, that it is not to be found between
the meridians of 16 degrees 30 minutes west and 12 degrees 30 minutes
west. On the 13th I had a number of lunar observations for the longitude,
the mean of which agreed exactly with the timekeeper.*

(*Footnote. In Mr. Dalrymple's Collection of Plans which I had not with
me the northernmost of the Islands of Tristan d'Acunha is placed in
latitude 37 degrees 22 minutes south and longitude 13 degrees 17 minutes
west. I think it probable we missed them by being too much to the
northward.)

In this passage the weather was generally so cloudy that I had few
opportunities to make observations of any kind except for the noon
latitudes. I could not determine when we crossed the line of no
variation. The two nearest observations to it were: the first in 39
degrees 51 minutes south latitude and 26 degrees 11 minutes west
longitude, where the variation of the compass was found to be 3 degrees
17 minutes east; and the other in latitude 35 degrees 30 minutes south
and longitude 5 degrees 21 minutes west, where I observed the variation
11 degrees 35 minutes west; between these we had no intermediate
observation for the variation.

Thursday 22.

At two in the afternoon we saw the Table Mountain of the Cape of Good
Hope. As it is reckoned unsafe riding in Table Bay at this time of year I
steered for False Bay. The next evening we anchored in the outer part.

Saturday 24.

And on the forenoon of the 24th got the ship secured in Simon's Bay,
which is in the inner part of False Bay. When moored, Noah's ark bore
south 35 degrees east three-quarters of a mile, and the hospital south 72
west. We found lying here one outward bound Dutch Indiaman, five other
Dutch ships, and a French ship.

After saluting the fort, which was returned by an equal number of guns, I
went on shore and dispatches were sent away to Cape Town to acquaint the
governor of our arrival. A Dutch ship at this time lying in Table Bay
bound for Europe, I sent letters by her to the Admiralty. It is very
unusual for ships to be in Table Bay so late in the year, on account of
the strong north-west winds. April is the time limited.

I gave the necessary directions for get