17^9. ROUND THE WORLD. SOQ 



In the afternoon of the Q3d, as soon as the ship 

 was moored, I went on shore to examine the watering- 

 place, accompanied by Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander : 

 the boat landed in the cove, without the least surf; 

 the water was excellent, and conveniently situated ; 

 there was plenty of w^ood close to high-water mark, 

 and the disposition of the people was in every respect 

 such as we could wish. 



Having, with Mr. Green, taken several observations 

 of the sun and moon, the mean result of them gave 

 180^ 47' W. longitude ; but, as all the observations 

 made before exceeded these, I have laid down the 

 coast from the mean of the w^hole. At noon, I took 

 the sun's meridan altitude with an astronomical 

 quadrant, which was set up at the watering-place, 

 and found the latitude to be 38° ^22' 24". 



On the 24th, early in the morning, I sent Lieu- 

 tenant Gore on shore, to superintend the cutting of 

 wood and filling of water, with a sufficient number of 

 men for both purposes, and all the marines as a 

 guard. After breakfast, 1 went on shore myself, and 

 continued there the whole day. 



Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander also went on shore 

 to gather plants, and in their walks saw several things 

 worthy of notice. They met with many houses in 

 the valleys that seemed to be wholly deserted, the 

 people living on the ridges of the hills in a kind of 

 sheds very slightly built. As they were advancing 

 in one of these valleys, the hills on each side of which 

 were very steep, they were suddenly struck with the 

 sight of a very extraordinary natural curiosity. It 

 was a rock, perforated through its whole substance, 

 so as to form a rude but stupendous arch or cavern, 

 opening directly to the sea : this aperture was seventy- 

 five feet long, twenty-seven broad, and five-and-forty 

 high, commanding a view of the bay and the hills on 

 the other side, which were seen through it, and, 

 opening at once upon the view, produced an effect 

 far superior to any of the contrivances of art. 



X 3 



