On the 7th of June, at four in the morning, the wind being more favourable, we unmoored, and at seven weighed and put to sea, with the Adventure in company. We had no sooner got out of the sound, than we found the wind at south; so that we had to ply through the Straits. About noon the tide of ebb setting out in our favour, made our boards advantageous; so that, at five o’clock in the evening, Cape Palliser, on the Island of Eahei-nomauwe, bore S. S. E. 1⁄2 S. and Cape Koamaroo, or the S. E. point of the sound, N. by W. 3⁄4 W. presently after it fell calm, and the tide of flood now making against us, carried us, at a great rate, back to the north. A little before high-water, the calm was succeeded by a breeze from the north, which soon increased to a brisk gale. This, together with the ebb, carried us, by eight o’clock the next morning, quite through the Strait. Cape Palliser, at this time, bore E. N. E. and at noon N. by W. distant seven leagues.
This day at noon, when we attended the winding up of the watches, the fusee of Mr. Arnold’s would not turn round; so that, after several unsuccessful trials, we were obliged to let it go down.
After getting clear of the Straits, I directed my course S. E. by E. having a gentle gale, but variable, between the north and west. The late S. E. winds having caused a swell from the same quarter, which did not go down for some days, we had little hopes of meeting with land in that direction. We, however, continued to steer to the S. E. and on the 11th, crossed the meridian of 180°, and got into the west longitude, according to my way of reckoning.
On the 16th, at seven in the morning, the wind having veered round to S. E. we tacked and stretched to N. E. being, at this time, in the latitude of 47° 7ʹ longitude 173° west. In this situation we had a great swell from N. E.
The wind continued at S. E., and S. S. E. blew fresh at intervals; and was attended with sometimes fair, and at other times rainy weather, till the 20th; on which day, being in the latitude of 44° 30ʹ, longitude 165° 45ʹ west, the wind shifted to the west, blew a gentle gale, and was attended with fair weather. With this we steered E. by N., E. by S., and E. till the 23d at noon, when, being in the latitude of 44° 38ʹ south, longitude 161° 27ʹ west, we had a few hours’ calm. The calm was succeeded by a wind at east, with which we stood to the north. The wind increased and blew in squalls, attended with rain, which at last brought us under our courses; and at two o’clock in the afternoon of the next day, we were obliged to lie to, under the foresail; having a very hard gale from E. N. E. and a great sea from the same direction.
At seven o’clock in the morning of the 25th, the gale being more moderate, we made sail under the courses, and in the afternoon set the top-sails close-reefed. At midnight, the wind having veered more to the north, we tacked and stretched to the S. E., being at this time in the latitude of 42° 53ʹ south, longitude 163° 20ʹ west.
We continued to stretch to the S. E. with a fresh gale and fair weather, till four o’clock in the afternoon the next day, when we stood again to the N. E. till midnight between the 27th and 28th. Then we had a few hours’ calm; which was succeeded by faint breezes from the west. At this time we were in the latitude of 42° 32ʹ, longitude 161° 15ʹ west. The wind remained not long at west, before it veered back to the east by the north, and kept between the S. E. and N. E. but never blew strong.
On July 2d, being in the latitude of 43° 3ʹ, longitude 156° 17ʹ west, we had again a calm, which brought the wind back to the west; but it was of no longer continuance than before, for the next day it returned to the E. and S. E., blew fresh at times, and by squalls, with rain.
On the 7th, being in the latitude of 41° 22ʹ, longitude 150° 12ʹ west, we had two hours’ calm; in which time Mr. Wales went on board the Adventure to compare the watches; and they were found to agree, allowing for the difference of their rates of going; a probable, if not a certain proof, that they had gone well since we had been in this sea.
The calm was succeeded by a wind from the south, between which point and the N. W. it continued for the six succeeding days, but never blew strong; it was, however, attended with a great hollow swell from S. W. and W., a sure indication that no large land was near in those directions. We now steered east, inclining to the south, and on the 10th, in the latitude of 43° 39ʹ, longitude 144° 43ʹ west, the variation was found, by several azimuths, to be no more than 3° east; but the next morning, it was found to be 4° 5ʹ 30ʺ, and in the afternoon, 5° 56ʹ east. The same day, at noon, we were in the latitude of 43° 44ʹ, longitude 141° 56ʹ west.