128 cook's second voyage march, 



In the latitude of 40 50' south, the land trenches 

 away to the westward, which I believe forms a deep 

 bay, as we saw from the deck several smokes arising 

 a-back of the islands that lay before it, when we could 

 not see the least signs of land from the mast head. 



From the latitude of 40 50' south, to the latitude 

 of 89 50' south, is nothing but islands and shoals ; 

 the land high, rocky, and barren. On the 19th, in 

 the latitude" of 40 30' south, observing breakers about 

 half a mile within shore of us, we sounded, and find- 

 ing but eight fathoms, immediately hauled off, deep- 

 ened our water to fifteen fathoms, then bore away, 

 and kept along shore again. From the latitude of 

 39 50' to 39 S. we saw no land, but had regular 

 soundings from fifteen to thirty fathoms. As we 

 stood on to the northward, we made land again in 

 about 39 ; after which we discontinued our northerly 

 course, as we found the ground very uneven, and 

 shoal water some distance off. I think it a very dan- 

 gerous shore to fall in with. 



The coast, from Adventure Bay to the place where 

 we stood away for New Zealand, lies in the direction 

 S. W. and N. \ E. about seventy-five leagues ; and 

 it is my opinion that there is no straits between New 

 Holland and Van Diemen's Land, but a very deep 

 bay. I should have stood farther to the northward, 

 but the wind blowing strong at S. S. E., and looking 

 likely to haul round to the eastward, which would 

 have blown right on the land, I therefore thought 

 it more proper to leave the coast, and steer for New 

 Zealand. 



After we left Van Diemen's Land, we had very 

 uncertain weather, with rain and very heavy gusts of 

 wind. On the 24th, we were surprised with a very 

 severe squall, that reduced us from top-gallant sails 

 to reefed courses, in the space of an hour. The sea 

 rising equally quick, we shipped many waves, one of 

 which stove the large cutter, and drove the small one 

 from her lashing into the waist - 7 and with much dif- 



