170 LUIZ VAEZ DE TORRES. 



"We went along 300 leagues of coast, as I have 

 mentioned, and diminished the latitude 2^°, which 

 hrought us iuto 9°. From hence we fell iu with a 

 hank of from three to nine fathoms, which extends 

 along the coast ahove 180 leagues. We went over 

 it along the coast to 7^ S. latitude, and the end 

 of it is in 5°. We could not go further on for 

 the many shoals and great currents, so we were 

 obliged to sail out S.W. in that depth to 11° S. 

 latitude." 



By this time Torres had reached the Strait which 

 now hears his name, and which he was the first to 

 pass through. He continues, . . . . " We caught 

 in aU this land tvrenty persons of diflPerent nations, 

 that with them we might be able to give a better 

 account to your Majesty. They give much notice 

 of other people, although as yet they do not make 

 themselves well understood."* 



M. de BougaruviUe, in June, 1768, with two 

 vessels. La Boudeuse and L'EtoUe, was proceeding 

 to the eastward towards the coast of Australia, 

 when the unexpected discovery of some detached 

 reefs (Bougainville's reefs of the charts) induced 

 him to alter course and stand to the northward. 

 No land was seen for three days. " On the 10th, at 

 daybreak," says he, " the land was discovered, bear- 

 ing from east to N.W. Long before dawn a deh- 



* Bumey's Chronolo^cal History of Voyages and Discoveries 

 in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. Vol. II. (Appendix) p. 



4/5. 



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