177^. THE, PACIFIC OCEAN. 15^ 



than the Resolution, to lead in for the shore ; which 

 was accordingly done. 



In standing in, it was not possible to avoid running 

 over the edges of some of the shoals, 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 few boards to 

 weather a spit that rtin out from an island on our lee, 

 Captain Gierke made the signal for having discovered 

 an harbour; in which, about five o'clock, we an- 

 chored in fifteen fathoms' water, over a bottom of 

 fine dark sand, about three quarters of a mile from 

 the shore ; the north point of the harbour bear- 

 ing N. by E. -- E. one mile distant ; and the small 

 islands in the entrance, within which we anchored, 

 extending from E. to S. E. 



Scarcely were the ships secured, when it began to 

 blow very strong ; so that we thought it prudent to 

 strike top-gallant yards. The weather, however, 

 continued fair; and the wind dispersing the fog that 

 had settled on the hills, it was tolerably clear also. 

 The moment, therefore, we had anchored, I hoisted 

 out two boats ; in one of which I sent Mr. Bligh, the 

 master, to survey the upper part of the harbour, and 

 look for wood ; for not a shrub was to be seen from 

 the ship. I also desired Captain Clerke to send his 

 master to sound the channel that is on the south 

 side of the small isles, between them and a pretty 

 large island which lies near the south point of the 

 harbour. Having given these directions, I went 

 myself, in my other boat, accompanied by Mr. Gore, 

 my first lieutenant, and Mr. Bailey, and landed on 

 the north point, to see what I could discover from 

 thence. 



From the highest hill over the point, we had a 

 pretty good view of the sea-coast, as far as Howe's 

 Foreland. It is much indented, and several rocky 

 points seemed to shoot out from it, with coves and 

 inlets of unequal extent. One of the latter, the end 



