1774* ROUND THE WORLD. 1 2/ 



fathoms, a fine sandy bottom. The nearer we came 

 to these shoals, the more we saw of them, and we 

 were not able to say if there was any passage between 

 the two lands. 



Being now but a few miles to windward of the low 

 isles lying off the Foreland, mentioned on the 25th 

 and 26th, I bore down to the one next to ns. As 

 we drew near it I perceived that it was unconnected 

 with the neighbouring shoals, and that it is probable 

 we might get to an anchor under its lee or west side. 

 We therefore stood on, being conducted by an officer 

 at the mast-head ; and after hauling round the point 

 of the reef which surrounds the isle, we attempted to 

 ply to windward, in order to get nearer the shore. 

 Another reef to the north confined us to a narrow 

 channel, through which ran a current against us, that 

 rendered this attempt fruitless; so that we were 

 obliged to anchor in thirty-nine fathoms' water, the 

 bottom fine coral sand ; the isle bearing W. by N., one 

 mile distant. As soon as this was done, we hoisted 

 out a boat, in which I went ashore, accompanied 

 by the botanists. We found the tall trees to be a 

 kind of spruce pine, very proper for spars, of which 

 we were in want. After making this discovery, I 

 hastened on board in order to have more time after 

 dinner, when 1 landed again with two boats, ac- 

 companied by several of the officers and gentlemen, 

 having with us the carpenter and some of his crew, 

 to cut down such trees as were wanting. While this 

 was doing, I took the bearings of several lands round. 

 The hilfon the Isle of Pines bore S. 59° Off E. ; the 

 low point of Queen Charlotte's Foreland N. 14° 30' 

 West ; the high land over it, seen over two low isles, 

 N. 20° West ; and the most advanced point of land 

 to the west, bore west, half a point south, distant 

 six or seven leagues. We had, from several bearings, 

 ascertained the true direction of the coast from the 

 Foreland to this point, which I shall distinguish by 

 the name of Prince of Wales's Foreland. It is 



