l8l VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



which they advanced or retarded frequently for 

 fome hours. 



This harbour, on account of the fmooth water 

 that there prevails, is one of the moft conve- 

 nient that can poffibly be defired for refitting 

 fhips. Befidcs, the vaft forefts that furround it 

 afford a wood which our carpenters confidered 

 as very fit for fhip-building : they employed 

 fome of it, which anfwered extremely well. 



The weather, during near a month's ftay, 

 was far from being favourable to aftronomical 

 obfervations. To explore thefe coafts would be 

 no eafy tafk in this feafon oft the year ; and in- 

 deed, the violence of the winds would oppofe 

 great obftacles to fuch an undertaking. 



During our flay at Cape T3iemen the winds 

 blew ftrong between the north-weft and fouth- 

 weft ; thofe from the north- weft almoft always 

 brought ftorras and rain. 



At funrife on the 16th, the two fhips were 

 towed to the mouth of the harbour ; the fails 

 were then loofed, and, with a breeze from the 

 northward, we flood towards the new ftrait, 

 which the Admiral intended to enter. 



After we had, till ten o'clock in the morning, 

 followed the edges of the reefs which we left 

 on the larboard hand in Storm Bay, the open- 

 ing of the ftrait bore north-north-weft, at the 



diftance 



