28 AVOYAGETOTHE 



c Fi^^A P. v^^ater, over a bottom of mud covered with fine yellow 



« ' faiid. 



1786. 



January. 



wedne , 4. rp^^ j^^^ IsLVid was fituated about three miles from jfhore, 

 and Teemed to form two iflands ; but on a nearer approach 

 I found that they were joined by a reef, and that a rocky 

 flioal ran out from each extreme nearly a mile. 



Thurfdays. We plied along fliore with variable winds and foggy 

 weather until daylight in the morning of the 5th, when, 

 having a favourable breeze from the Northward, we 

 ilood well in for the land ; foon afterwards a fine 

 opening prefented itfelf to the South Weft, which pro- 

 mifed an excellent harbour. On this I ordered the whale- 

 boat to be lowered down, and fent Mr. M'Leod, my chief 

 mate, with orders to found the entrance, and to dired: 

 caLptain Dixon to keep a-head of the King George. 



By five o'clock we approached the opening very faft; 

 on which I made a fignal for the whale-boat to pufh on 

 and look out for an anchoring place. Soon after fix 

 o'clock, the boat being about four miles a-head, made 

 the fignal for fhoal water, which occafioned us to haul 

 the wind and ftand off: after founding direftly acrofs 

 the entrance, the boat proceeded on and prefently difap- 

 peared within the Eaft point of the opening ; notwith- 

 ftanding which, I ftood in under a very eafy fail, being 

 doubtful whether we fhould meet with a harbour ; Mr, 

 M'Leod not having as yet made the appointed fignal for 

 finding one. At the fame time we were within fome 

 fmall iflands, with an increafing wind, which blew diredly 

 on fhore, and there was every appearance of an approach- 

 ing 



