make itfe lf ve ry confpicuou s; for it is a h igh projecting J g gL
head-land, with a confiderable extent o f level ground, lower •----
than the Nofs, un iting it to the continent. It prefents the
fame appearance, whether viewed from the North or South,
and w ill warn the mariner not to be deceived, in ima gin in
g Awatika Bay to lie in the bight, w hich the coaft forms
to the Northward o f this N o fs ; and w hich might be the
cafe, from the ftriking refemblance there is between a
conical h ill within this b igh t or bay, and one to the South o f
Awatika Bay.
I have been thus particular, in g iv in g a minute defcrip-
tion o f this coaft, from our own experience o f the want o f
it. For had we been furniihed with a tolerable account o f
the form o f the coaft, on each fide o f Awatika Bay, we
ihould, on our firft arrival upon it, have got fafe ly within
the bay two days before we did, and thereby have avoided
part o f the ftormy weather, w hich came on when we were
p ly in g o f f the mouth o f the harbour. Befides, from the
prevalence o f fogs, in thefe feas, it muft frequently happen,
that an obfervation for afcertaining the latitude cannot
he g o t ; to w h ich w e may add, that the deceptive appearances
land makes, when covered with fnow, and when
viewed through an h a zy atmofphere, both which circum-
ftances prevail here, during the greateft part o f the year,
render the kn owledge o f a variety o f difcriminating objects
the more neceffary.
Should, however, the weather be clear enough to admit
a view o f the mountains on the coaft in its neighbourhood,
thefe w ill ferve to point out the fituation o f Awatika Bay,
w ith a great deal o f preGifion. For to the South o f it are
two h ig h mountains; that w hich is neareft the bay, is
V o l . III. S f ihaped