4 88 - 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. We refumed our courfe, at day-break on the 18th, along 
the coaft. At noon, we had no more than five fathoms 
May 18. water. At this time the latitude was 63° 37b Befborough 
Ill and now bore North 42 0 Eaft ; the Southernmoft land in 
fight, which proved alfo to be an ifland, South 66° Weft; 
the paffage between it and the main, South 40° Weft; and 
the neareft land about two miles cliftant. I continued to 
fteer for this paffage, until the boats, which were ahead, 
made the fignal for having no more than three fathoms 
water. On this we hauled without the illand; and made 
the fignal for the Refolution’s boat to keep between the fhips 
and the lliore. 
This illand, which obtained the name of Stuarts Ifland ., 
lies in the latitude of 63° 35', and feventeen leagues from 
Cape Denbigh, in the direction of South iy° Weft. It is fix 
or feven leagues in circuit. Some parts of it are of a 
middling height; but, in general, it is low; with fome 
rocks lying off the Weftern part. The coaft of the continent 
is, for the moft part, low land; but w r e faw high land up 
the country. It forms a point, oppofite the illand, which 
was named Cape Stephens , and lies in latitude 63° 33 / , and 
in longitude 197 0 4 T. Some drift-wood was feen upon the 
Ihores, both of the illand and of the continent; but not a 
tree was perceived growing upon either. One might an¬ 
chor, upon occafion, between the North Eaft fide of this 
illand and the continent, in a depth of five fathoms, fhel- 
tered from Wefteiiy, Southerly, and Eafterly winds. But 
this ftation would be wiiolly expofed to the Northerly winds, 
the land, in that direction, being at too great a diftance to 
afford any fecurity. Before w r e reached Stuart’s Illand, we 
paffed two fmall illands, lying between us and the main; 
and as we ranged along the coaft, feveral people appeared 
upon 
