C H A P . II.
TranfaEliom in Chrijhnas Sound, with an Account o f the
Country and its Inhabitants.
T HE morning of the s tft was calm and pieafant. After 1774.
breakfaft, I fet out with two boats, to look for a more ,Decem‘jer'.
fecure Ration. We no 'fooner got round, or above the point, w'ednef.
under which the fhip lay, than we found a cove in which
was anchorage in thirty, twenty, and fifteen fathoms, the
bottom ftones and fand. At the head of the cove was a
ftony beach, a valley covered with wood, and a ftream of
frefh water; fo that there was .every thing we could expect
to find in fuch a plac.e, or rarher more; for we fhot three
geefe out of four that we faw, and caught fome young
ones, which we afterwards let go.
After difcovering, and founding this cove, I fent Lieutenant
Clerke, who commanded the other boat, on board, with
orders to rempve the fhip into this place, while I proceeded
farther up the inlet. I prefently faw that the land we
were under, which disjoined the two arms, as mentioned
before, was anifland, at the north end of which the two
channels united.. After this, I haftened on board, and
found every thing in readinefs to weigh ; which was accordingly
done, and all the boats fent a-head to tow the
fhip round the point. But, at that moment, a light breeze
came in from the lea too fcant to fill our fails; fo that we
were obliged to drop the anchor again, for fear of falling
Vól. II. A a upon