74 AVOYAGETO 



December ^^^ ^^^^ "°^ ^^°^^ ^^^ mouth of a large bay, that lies 



'— V ' about eight miles to the Southward of Howe's Foreland. In 



and before the entrance of this bay are feveral low iflands, 

 rocks, and thofe beds of fea-wee'd. But there feemed to be 

 winding channels between them. After continuing our 

 courfe half an hour longer, we were fo much embarrafTed 

 with thefe flioals, that I refolved to haul off to the Eafl- 

 ward, as the likeliell means of extricating ourfelves from 

 the danger that threatened us. But fo far was this from 

 anfwering the intended purpofe, that it brought us into 

 more. I therefore found it abfolurely neceflary to fecure 

 the fliips, if poffible, in fome place before night ; efpecially 

 as the weather had now become hazy, and a fog was ap- 

 prehended. And feeing fome inlets to the South VVeft of 

 us, I ordered Captain Gierke, as the Difcovery drew lefs- 

 water than the Refolution, to lead in for the fliore ; which 

 was accordingly done. 



In Handing in, it was not poflible to avoid running over 

 the edges of fome of the fhoals, on which we found from 

 ten to twenty fathoms water ; and the moment we were 

 over, had no ground at the depth of fifty fathoms. After 

 making a few boards to weather a fpit that run out from 

 an iiland on our lee, Captain Gierke made the fignal for 

 having difcovered an harbour ; in which, about five o'clock^ 

 we anchored in fifteen fathoms water, over a bottom of fine 

 dark fand, about three quarters of a mile from the fliore; 

 the North point of the harbour bearing North by Eaft 4- Eafl, 

 one mile diftant ; and the fmall iflands in the entrance, 

 within which we anchored, extending from Eaft to South 

 Eaft. 



Scarcely were the fliips fecured, when it began to blow 



very flrong; fo that we thought it prudent to llrike top- 



7 gallant 



