404 cook's vovage to aug. 



the flood-tide came from the east, and set to the west, 

 till between ten and eleven o'clock. From that time, 

 till two the next morning, the stream set to the east- 

 ward, and the water fell three feet. 1 he flood ran 

 both stronger and longer than the ebb ; from which 

 I concluded, that, besides the tide, there was a west- 

 erly current. 



At ten in the morning of the 5th, with the wind 

 at south-west, we ran down and anchored, between 

 the island and the continent, in seven fathoms water. 

 Soon after, I landed upon the island, and, accompa- 

 nied by Mr. King, and some others of the officers, I 

 hoped to have had from it a view of the coast and sea 

 to the westward ; but the fog was so thick in that di- 

 rection, that the prospect was not more extensive 

 than from the ship. The coast of the continent 

 seemed to take a turn to the northward, at a low 

 point named Point Rodney, which bore from the 

 island north- west half west, three or four leagues dis- 

 tant ; but the high land, which took a more northerly 

 direction, was seen a great way farther. 



This island, which was named Sledge Island, and 

 lies in the latitude of 6V 30', and in the longitude of 

 193 57', is about four leagues in circuit. The sur- 

 face of the ground is composed chiefly of large 

 loose stones, that are, in many places, covered with 

 moss and other vegetables, of which there were above 

 twenty or thirty different sorts, and most of them in 

 flower. But [ saw neither shrub nor tree, either 

 upon the island, or on the continent. On a small 

 low spot, near the beach where we landed, was a good 

 deal of wild purslain, pease, long-wort, &c. ; some of 

 which we took on board for the pot. We saw one 

 fox ; a few plovers, and some other small birds ; and 

 we met with some decayed huts that were partly 

 built below ground. People had lately been on the 

 island ; and it is pretty clear, that they frequently 

 visit it for some purpose or other. We found, a little 



