THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
75 
was tolerably clear alfo. The moment, therefore, we had 1776. 
anchored, I hoiiled out two boats ; in one of which I fent , December ' 
Mr. Bligh, the Mailer, to Purvey the upper-part of the har¬ 
bour, and look for wood; for not a ftirub was to be feen 
from the fhip. I alfo defired Captain Clerke to fend his 
Mailer to found the channel that is on the South lide of the 
fmall illes, between them and a pretty large illand which 
lies near the South point of the harbour. Having given 
thefe directions, I went myfelf, in my other boat, accompa¬ 
nied by Mr. Gore, my firll Lieutenant, and Mr. Bayly, and 
landed on the North point, to fee what I could difcover 
from thence. 
From the higheft hill over the point, we had a pretty 
good view of the fea-coaft, as far as Howe’s Foreland. It is 
much indented, and feveral rocky points feemed to fhoot 
out from it, with coves and inlets of unequal extent. One 
of the latter, the end of which I could not fee, was dis¬ 
joined from that in which the Blips were at anchor, by the 
point we then flood upon. A great many fmall illands, 
rocks, and breakers appeared fcattered along the coaft, as 
well to the Southward as Northward; and I faw no better 
channel to get out of the harbour, than by the one through 
which we had entered it. 
While Mr. Bayly and I were making the obfervations, Mr. 
Gore encompalfed the hill; and joined us by a different 
route, at the place where I had ordered the boat to wait for 
us. Except the craggy precipices, we met with nothing to 
obflruCl our walk. For the country was, if poflible, more 
barren and defolate than about Chrillmas Harbour. And 
yet, if there be the leall fertility in any part of this land, 
we ought to have found it in this, which is completely 
Bieltered from the predominating bleak Southerly and 
L 2 Weflerly 
