450 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



gave no fmall degree of probability to this con- 

 jecture. In fact, at the Cape of Good Hope, 

 which extends even a few degrees more to the 

 fouthvvard than this part of New Holland, the 

 cafterly winds are always the reigning winds at 

 this feafon of the year. 



On the 23d at noon we had got no farther 

 than the latitude of 34 24' fouth, and longitude 

 of 120 22' eaft; and we had not yet loft fight 

 of the little Archipelago where we had anchored. 



The wind ha4 been pretty frelh at eaft in the 

 afternoon, but in the beginning of the night it 

 blew from the coaft, and made us experience 

 intolerable heat. Prefently we were furrounded 

 by an extraordinarily thick mift;, the air was 

 charged with very great hu midity , which penetrated 

 every where: I cannot form a better comparifon 

 of it than with that which is brought by thefouth 

 winds in the Mediterranean, at a fhort diftance 

 from the coaft of Africa, in the hotteft feafon. 

 The fands, heated by the rays of the fun, had 

 increafed the property pofTefTed by the atmo- 

 fpheric air of diffolving water, and we found our- 

 felvcs as if in the middle of a vapour-bath of a 

 mild temperature. 



The darknefs of the night made us lofe fight 

 of the Efperancc about eleven o'clock at night, 

 and fhc did not, till three hours after, anfwer 

 our fignals by a gun which we heard from a 



great 



