iy)S. We were now crofs the mouth of a large bay, that lies
*—^ — | about eight miles to the Southward of Howe’s Foreland. In
and before the entrance of this bay are feveral low iflands,
rocks, and thofe beds of fea-weed. But there feemed to be
winding channels between them. After continuing our
courfe half an hour longer, we were fo much embarrafied.'
with thefe fho'als, that I refolved to haul off to the Eaft-
ward, as the likelieft means of extricating ourfelves from
the danger that threatened' US; But fo far Was this from
anfwering the intended purpofe, that it brought us intu
more. I therefore found it abfolutely neceftary to! fecure
the ihips, if poilible, in fome place before night; efpecially
as the weather had now become hazy, and a fog. Was apprehended.
And feeing fome inlets to the South Weft of
usy I ordered Captain Clerke, as the Difcovery drew lefswater
than the Refolution, to: lead in for the fhore; which-
was accordingly done.
In handing in, it was not pollible to avoid running over
the edges of fome of die ihoals, on which we found from
ten to twenty fathoms water; and the moment we were
over, had no ground at the depth of fifty fathoms. After
making a Fe'w boards to’weather a fpit that rub out fi'oUl?
an ifland on our lee, Captain Clerke made the lignal fo r 1
having difcovered an harbour; in Which, about five o’clock,,
we anchored -in fifteen fathoms water, over a bottom of fine-
dark fand, about three quarters o f a mile from the Ihore;
the North point of the harbour bearing North by Eaft 4 Eaft,
one mile diftant; and the fmall iflahds in the entrance,,
within which we anchored, extending from Eaft to South
Eaft.
Scarcely were the ihips fecured, when it began to blow
very ftrong; fo that we thought it prudent to ftrike top-
7 , ' . , gallant
gallant yards. The weather, however, continued fair 5 and w.®-
the wind difperfinguhe fog that had fettled on the hills, it
W.as tolerably clear alfo. The moment, therefore, we had
anchored, 1 hoifted out two boats ; in one of which I fent
Mr. Bligh, the Mailer, to furvey the upper-part of the harbour,
and look for wood j for not a ihrub was to be feen
from the ihip, I alfo defired Captain Clerke to fend his
Mailer to found the channel that is on the South fide of the
fmall ifles, between them and a pretty large ifland which
lies near the South point of the .harbour. Having given
thefe directions, I went myfelf, in my o.ther boat, accompanied
by Mr. Gore, my firft Lieutenant, and Mr. Baily, and
landed on the North point, to fee what 1 could difcover, from
thence.
From the higheft hill over the point, we had. a pretty good
view of the fea-coaft, as far as Howe’s Foreland. It is
much indented, and feveral rocky points feemed to fhoot
out from it, with coves and inlets of unequal extent. One
o f the latter, the end of which I could not fee, was dif-
joined from that in which the ihips were at anchor, by the
point we then flood upon. A great. many fmall iflands,
rocks, and breakers appeared fcattered along the cqaft, as
well to the Southward as Northward ; and I faw no better
channel to get out of the harbour, than by the. One through
which we had entered it.
While Mr. Baily and I were making the obfervàtiòns, Mr.
Gore encompafled the hill; and-joined us by a different
route, at the place where I had ordered the boat to.wait for
us. Except thè craggy precipices, we met with nothing to
obftruit our walk. For the country.was, if pqffible, more
barren and, defolate than about Chriftmas Harbour. And
L 2 yet,