172 
SURVJIY OP THE INTERTROPICAL 
im. At half past four o’clock the mast-head man 
Jan, 17. was cautioned to look out for breakers, and in 
less than half an hour afterwards he reported 
some, bearing N.W.b.N. On going to the mast- 
head I saw them distinctly, for they were not 
more than four miles off, and on looking round 
the horizon towards the westward, distinctly 
saw the island of Frederick Houtman's Abrol- 
hos, which for some time the mast-headman 
persisted was only the shadow of the clouds; 
but a small hummock being soon afterwards de- 
scried upon the summit of the largest, confirmed 
my conjectures. The group appeared to con- 
sist of three islands, all low and of small size. 
Beyond and around them the sea was smooth, 
and to the southward another patch of breakers 
was observed. Preparations were now made 
to tack off, but I had scarcely reached the deck 
when the look-out man reported rocks under 
our lee bow, upon which the helm was imme- 
diately put up ; and when the vessel’s head was 
round upon the opposite tack, the following bear- 
ings were taken: — 
[ West ] 
Island of the Abrolhos . eig-ht miles off, between •< and > 
[S.75°W.j 
Breakers • • four miles off . . | 
Another patch • . seven miles off • S.W. 
And the small rock patch half a mile off . • West 
