177^. ROUND THE WORLD. 193 



We continued to stand to the S.E. till seven in the 

 morning on the 15th, when the wind veering to the 

 S.E. we tacked and stood to the N. A little before 

 we tacked, we saw the land bearing E, by N. At 

 noon the mercury in the thermometer was at 35|°. 

 The wind blew in squalls, attended with snow and 

 sleet, and we had a great sea to encounter. At a 

 lee-lurch which the ship took, Mr. Wales observed 

 her to lie down 4£°. At halt-past four P. M. we 

 took in the top-sails, got down top-gallant yards, 

 wore the ship, and stood to the S.W. under two 

 courses. At midnight the storm abated, so that we 

 could carry the top-sails double reefed. 



At four in the morning of the 10th, we wore and 

 stood to the E., with the wind at S.S.E., a moderate 

 breeze and fair ; at eight o'clock saw the land ex- 

 tending from E. by N. to N.E. by N. ; loosed a reef 

 out of each top-sail, got top-gallant yards across, and 

 set the sails. At noon observed in latitude 54° $5'$' ; 

 longitude 38° 18' W. In this situation we had one 

 hundred and ten fathoms' water ; and the land ex- 

 tended from N. i W. to E., eight leagues distant. 

 The northern extreme was the same that we first 

 discovered, and it proved to be an island which 

 obtained the name of Willis's Island, after the person 

 who first saw it. 



At this time we had a great swell from the S., 

 an indication that no land was near us in that 

 direction ; nevertheless, the vast quantity of snow on 

 that in sight, induced us to think it was extensive, 

 and I chose to begin with exploring the northern 

 coast. With this view we bore up for Willis's Island, 

 all sails set, haying a fine gale at S. S. W. As we 

 advanced to the N., we perceived another isle lying- 

 east of Willis's, and between it and the main. Seeing 

 there was a clear passage between the two isles, we 

 steered for it, and at five o'clock, being in the middle 

 of it, we found it about two miles broad. 



Willis's Isle is a high rock of no great extent, near 

 VOL. iv. o 



