168 
A VOYAGE TO 
[North Coast. 
isos, second ; and went away the same afternoon in my boat, upon an excur- 
Wednes. 22. sion of four days, accompanied by Mr. Westall, the landscape painter. 
The soundings we had in steering for the west point ot Van- 
derlin’s Island and southward along the shore, will be best known 
from the particular plan of this group. Bearings were taken at two 
chosen stations ; and we stopped in the evening, at the furthest of 
two small isles near the south-west side of the island, to pass the 
night without disturbance from the Indians. It then rained and blew 
hard, with thunder and lightning, and the soil being sandy and de- 
stitute of wood to break off the wind, it was with difficulty the tent 
could be secured; the islet had been visited, and we found the re- 
mains of more than one turtle feast. Amongst the bearings set from 
hence, was a projecting part of the low main land, at S. 19^° W. six 
or seven miles, and it was the furthest visible. 
Thursday 23. We had more moderate weather in the morning, and went on 
towards the south point of Vanderlin’s Island ; but stopped two or 
three miles short of it, at a station whence the south point and the low 
islet lying off were visible, as also was the sandy head set from 
the ship on the 12th and 13th ; and from the bearings of these 
objects my survey round Vanderlin’s Island became connected. A 
part of the sandy main coast was distant not more than four miles to 
the S. S. W., whence it extended as far as S. 62° W.; the water ap- 
peared to be too shallow for a ship to pass between it and the island. 
A fresh wind from the north-west prevented me from going 
any further to leeward ; and it was with much difficulty that we 
rowed back to the isle where we had passed the night. Strong 
squalls again came on towards evening, and the larger isle, lying a 
mile to the north-west, was chosen for our night's residence, on 
account of its affording some shelter; but the lightning was so violent 
and close to us, that I feared to place the tent near the trees, and was 
surprised in the morning, not to see half of them shivered to pieces: 
the rain fell in torrents, during a part of the night. 
Friday 24. Next morning the weather was better, but the wind still 
