428 cook's voyage to aug. 



or spit, bore south south-west, four miles distant ; to 

 the east of which there appeared to be a narrow chan- 

 nel, leading into some water that we saw over the 

 point. Probably, the lake before mentioned commu- 

 nicates here with the sea. 



At noon, the mist dispersing for a short interval, 

 we had a tolerably good view of the coast, which ex- 

 tended from south-east to north-west by west. Some 

 parts appeared higher than others ; but in general it 

 was very low, with high land farther up the country. 

 The whole was now covered with snow, which had 

 lately fallen, quite down to the sea. I continued to 

 range along the coast, at two leagues' distance, till 

 ten at night, when we hauled off; but we resumed 

 our course next morning, soon after day-break, when 

 we got sight of the coast again, extending from west to 

 south-east by south. At eight, the eastern part bore 

 south, and proved to be an island ; which at noon 

 bore south-west half south, four or fives miles distant. 

 It is about four or five miles in circuit, of a middling 

 height, with a steep, rocky coast, situated about three 

 leagues from the main, in the latitude of 67 46" ', and 

 distinguished in the chart by the name of Burney's 

 Island. 



The inland country hereabout is full of hills ; some 

 of which are of a considerable height. The land was 

 covered with snow, except a few spots upon the sea- 

 coast, which still continued low, but less so than far- 

 ther westward. For the two preceding days, the 

 main height of the mercury in the thermometer had 

 been very little above the freezing point, and often 

 below it 5 so that the water in the vessels upon the 

 deck was frequently covered with a sheet of ice. 



I continued to steer south south-east, nearly in the 

 direction of the coast, till five in the afternoon, when 

 land was seen bearing south, 50 east, which we pre- 

 sently found to be a continuation of the coast, and 

 hauled up for it. Being abreast of the eastern land, at 

 ten at night, and in doubts of weathering it, we tacked 



