177^ ROUND THE WORLD. 209 



in with it by ten o'clock, but could not weather it, 

 and were obliged to tack three miles from the coast, 

 which extended from E. byS. to S.E., and had much 

 the appearance of being an island of about eight or 

 ten leagues' circuit. It shows a surface of con- 

 siderable height, whose summit was lost in the clouds, 

 and, like all the neighbouring lands, covered with a 

 sheet of snow and ice, except on a projecting point 

 on the north side, and two hills seen over this point, 

 which probably might be two islands. These only 

 were clear of snow, and seemed covered with a green 

 turf. Some large ice-islands lay to the N.E., and 

 some others to the S. 



We stood off till noon, and then tacked for the 

 land again, in order to see whether it was an island 

 or no. The weather was now become very hazy, 

 which soon turning to a thick fog, put a stop to dis- 

 covery, and made it unsafe to stand for the shore ; so 

 that after having run the same distance in, as we had 

 run off, we tacked and stood to N.W. for the land we 

 had seen in the morning, which was yet at a con- 

 siderable distance. Thus we were obliged to leave 

 the other, under the supposition of its being an island, 

 which I named Saunders, after my honourable friend 

 Sir Charles. It is situated in the latitude of 67° 49/ 

 S., longitude 26° 4 1/ W. ; and N., distant thirteen 

 leagues from Cape Montagu. 



At six o'clock in the evening, the wind shifting to 

 the W., we tacked, and stood to the N., and at eight the 

 fog clearing away, gave us a sight of Saunders's isle, 

 extending from S. E. by S. to E. S. E. We were still in 

 doubt if it were an island ; for, at this time, land was 

 seen bearing E. by S., which might, or might not be 

 connected with it ; it might also be the same that we 

 had seen the preceding evening. But, be this as it 

 may, it was now necessary to take a view of the land 

 to the north before we proceeded any farther to the 

 east. With this intention, we stood to the north, 

 having a light breeze at W. by S. ? which, at two 



VOL. IV. p 



