OF la PERpysB, 457 



had been forced to abandon it, after he bad been 

 able to examine it only for the extent of about 

 feventy myriameters *. 



Before we touched on this coaft, we did not 

 forefce that we fhould here i'o frequently meet 

 with tempeftuous wind ially at tins featbn, 



which ihould be that of the fumraer in thefe feas, 



* 



the fun having been now for upwards of two 

 months in the- fouthern hemifphcre. May not 

 this impetuofity of the winds be occafioned by 

 the prodigious difference that exifts between the 

 trifling degree of the heat of the atmofphere at 

 fea, and the ardent rays of the fun, which were 

 concentrated by the burning fands of the maijx 

 land ? 



The currents that were perceptible along this 

 coaft, always followed the direction of the winds. 



The Efptrance was in ftill greater diftrefs than 

 we were ; befides, that (hip had met with feveral 

 accidents at our laft anchorage : it required an ex- 

 cellent ihelter to execute all the repairs of which 

 fhe flood in need. 



At four o'clock we loft fight of the land from 

 the malt- head, and, at the fame moment, we 

 had thirty fathoms water, with a bottom of fine 

 fand, mixed with broken fhells and lytofnltes. 

 yVe continued founding every two hours, and, at 



f See Vancouver's Voyage, vol. i. page 42 and following. 



each 



