1770. the latitude of 42° 23', and longitude from Cape Weft 30 55' E.
,_Ma;ch- , We now tacked and flood eaftward, with a frefli gale at N.
by W. till fix in the evening, when the wind ftiifted to the S.
and S. S. ,W. with which we fleered N.E. by N. till fix in the
Wedncf.21. morning, when we hauled in E. by N. to make the land,
which we faw foon afterwards ; at noon, our latitude, by
account, was 41° 37'. and our longitude from Cape Weft 5»
42' E. We were now within three or four leagues of the
land, but it being foggy, we could fee. nothing upon it
diftinttly, and as we had much wind, and a vaft fwell rolling
in upon the fhore, from the W. S. W. I did not think it fafe
to go nearer.
In the afternoon, we had a gentle breeze from the S. S. W.
with which we fleered north along the fhore till eight, when,
being within between two and three leagues, we founded,
and had but thirty-four fathom ; upon which we hauled off
N. W. by N. till eleven at night, and then brought to, having
Tiurfday fixty-four fathom. At four in the morning, we made fail to
the N. E. with a light breeze at S. S. W. which at eight v.eered
to the weftward, and foon after died away: at this time we
were within three or four miles of the land, and had fifty-
four fathom, with a large fwell from the W. S. W. rolling
obliquely upon the fhore, which made me fear that I fhould
be obliged to anchor; but by the help of a light air now
and then from the S. W. I was able to keep the fliip from
driving. At noon, the northermoft land in fight bore N. E.
by E. i E. diftant about ten leagues; our latitude, by account,
1 was 400 55' S. longitude from Cape Weft, 6° 35' &
-From this time we had light airs from the fouthward, with
M l intervals of calm, till noon on the 23d, when our latitude,
by obfervation, was 40° 36' 30" S. and our longitude from
Cape Weft 6° 52' E. The eaftermoft point of land in fight
bore E. 10 N. at the diftance of feven leagues, and a bluff
5 head
head or noint, Of which we had;been abreaft at noon the day «M,
beföfce, and off Avhichrilay fome irocks above water, boreS. u—,—
i8,W- 'at the diftance; (Of fix leagues, : This point I, called, "f*
Rope’s Point. Qurlatitudcwas now 40“ 55' S. and having
nearly run down the whole of the north weft coaft of Tovy
Poenammoo, I fhall give fome account of the face of the
country.. . iflib 10a
: 'I have already ohferved, that on the nth, when we were
off'the fouthern part, the land then feen was craggy and
mountainous, and there Is great reafon to believe that the
fame ridge o f mountains extends nearly the whole length o f
the fHand. Between thé weftermoft land which wè faw that
day,-and the eaftermoft which we faw on the 13th, there is a
fpace of about fix or eight leagues, of which we did not fee
the coaft, though we plainly difcovered, the mountains inland.
The fea coaft near Cape Weft is low, riling with an
eafy and gradual afcent to the foot of the mountains, and
being in . móft parts-covered with* wood. From Point Five
Fingers, down to latitude 44° 20', there is a narrow ridge of
hills, that .rifes direótly from the fea, and is coverèd with
wood: clofe behind thefe hills are the' mountains, extending
in another ridge of a ilupendous height, and confifting of
rocks that ar.e totally barren and naked, except where they
-are covered with fnow, which is to be feen in large patches
upon many parts of them, and has probably lain there ever
,finqe -the creation of the world: a pröfpetft more rude,
craggy, and defolate than this country affords from the fea,
cannot poffibly be conceived, for as far inland as the eye
can reach, nothing appears but the fummits óf rocks, which
ftand fo near together, that inftead of vallies there are only
fiffures between them. From the latitude of 44° 20', to the
latitude of 42° 8', thefe mountains lie farther inland, and
‘Vol. III. 7 . D the