THEPAGIFIC OCEAN. 7, 



off Chriftmas Harbour bore North; and the North point of ^'776. 



* December. 



the Foreland, North 60° Weft, diftant three miles. The land 

 of this Peninfula, or Foreland, is of a moderate height, and 

 of a hilly and rocky fubftance. The coaft is low, with 

 rocky points fliooting out from it ; between which points 

 are little coves, with fandy beaches ; and thefe, at this time, 

 were moftly covered with fea birds. We alfo faw upon 

 them fome feals. 



As foon as we were clear of the rocks and iflands before 

 mentioned, I gave orders to fteer South Eaft by South, along 

 the coaft. But before thefe orders could be carried into ex- 

 ecution, we difcovered the whole fea before us to be che- 

 quered with large beds of rock- weed, which we knew to be 

 faft to the bottom, and to grow on rocky fhoals. I had 

 often found a great depth of water on fuch Ihoals ; and I 

 had, as often, found rocks that have raifed their heads 

 nearly to the furface of the water. It is always dangerous, 

 therefore, to fail over them before they are well esamined ; 

 but more efpecially, when there is no furge of the fea to 

 difcover the danger. This was the cafe at prefent, for the 

 fea was as fmooth as a mill-pond. Confequently we endea- 

 voured to avoid them, by fleering through the winding 

 channels by which they were feparated. We kept the lead 

 continually going; but never ftruck ground with a line of 

 fixty fathoms. This circumftance increafed the danger, as 

 we could not anchor, whatever neceflity there might be for 

 it. After running in this manner above an hour, \ye difco- 

 vered a lurking rock, juft even with the furface of the fea. 

 It bore North Eaft i Eaft, diftant three or four miles, and 

 lay in the middle of one of thefe large beds of weeds. This 

 was a fufficient warning to make us ufe every precaution to 

 prevent our coming upon them. 

 Vol. I. L We 



