74 
A VOYAGE TO 
1776. and before the entrance of this bay are feveral low iflands, 
> t ' cc ^ ier ' l rocks, and thofe beds of fea-weed. But there feemed to be 
winding channels between them. After continuing our 
courfe half an hour longer, we were fo much embarrafTed 
with thefe fhoals, that I refolved to haul off to the Eafl- 
ward, as the likelieft means of extricating ourfelves from 
the danger that threatened us. But fo far was this from 
anfwering the intended purpofe, that it brought us into 
more. I therefore found it abfolutely neceflary to fecure 
the Blips, if poflible, in fome place before night; efpecially 
as the weather had now become hazy, and a fog was ap¬ 
prehended. And feeing fome inlets to the South Weft of us, 
I ordered Captain Clerke, as the Difcovery drew lefs water 
than the Refolution, to lead in for the fliore; which was 
accordingly done. 
In {landing in, it w^as not poflible to avoid running over 
the edges of fome of the flioals, on which we found from 
ten to twenty fathoms water; and the moment we were 
over, had no ground at the depth of fifty fathoms. After 
making a few boards to weather a fpit that run out from 
an ifland on our lee, Captain Clerke made the fignal for 
having difcovered an harbour; in which, about five o’clock, 
we anchored in fifteen fathoms water, over a bottom of 
fine dark fand, about three quarters of a mile from the 
fhore; the North point of the harbour bearing North by 
Eafl \ Eafl, one mile diftant; and the fmall iflands in the 
entrance, within which we anchored, extending from Eafl 
to South Eafl. 
Scarcely were the Blips fecured, when it began to blow 
very flrong; fo that we thought it prudent to flrike top¬ 
gallant yards. The weather, however, continued fair; and 
the wind difperBng the fog that had fettled on the hills, it 
1 was 
