1770. ROUND THE WORLD. 127 



CHAP. II. 



DANGEROUS SITUATION OF THE SHIP IN HER COURSE FROM 

 TRINITY BAY TO ENDEAVOUR RIVER. 



JriiTHERTO we had safely navigated this dangerous 

 coast, where the sea in all parts conceals shoals that 

 suddenly project from the shore, and rocks that rise 

 abruptly like a pyramid from the bottom, for an ex- 

 tent of two and twenty degrees of latitude, more 

 than one thousand three hundred miles ; and there- 

 fore hitherto none of the names which distinguish 

 the several parts of the country that we saw, are 

 memorials of distress ; but here we became acquaint- 

 ed with misfortune, and we therefore called the 

 point which we had just seen farthest to the north- 

 ward, Cape Tribulation. 



This cape lies in latitude 16 6' S., and longitude 

 ^14 39' W. We steered along the shore N. by W. 

 at the distance of between three and four leagues, 

 having from fourteen to twelve, and ten fathom 

 water : in the offing we saw two islands, which lie in 

 latitude 16 S., and about six or seven leagues from 

 the main. At six in the evening, the northermost 

 land in sight bore N. by W. i W., and two low 

 woody islands, which some of us took to be rocks 

 above water, bore N. i- W. At this time we shorten- 

 ed sail, and hauled off shore E. N. E. and N. E. by 

 E. close upon a wind, for it was my design to stretch 

 off all night, as well to avoid the danger we saw ahead, 

 as to see whether any islands lay in the offing, espe- 

 cially as we were now near the latitude assigned to 

 the islands which were discovered by Quiros, and 

 which some geographers, for what reason I know 

 not, have thought fit to join to this land. We had the 

 advantage of a fine breeze, and a clear moonlight 



