Page:A Voyage to Terra Australis Volume 1.djvu/429

Off C. Bridgewater.]

shrubs and small trees did not more than half cover the sandy surface. We pursued the round of the coast at the distance of four or five miles, having three reefs in the top sails on account of the squally weather. At ten o'clock, in a clear interval, land was seen bearing S. 51° E.; and a thick squall with rain coming on, in which the wind shifted suddenly from north-north-west to south-west, we were forced to haul close up, and let out the third reefs in order to weather the coast. A constant succession of rainy squalls prevented us from knowing how the land lay for some time, nor could an observation for the latitude be obtained; but at half past noon our anxiety was relieved by distinguishing the furthest extreme, a bold, cliffy cape, bearing S. 72½° E., broad on the lee bow.

This high projection was the Cape Bridgewater of captain Grant. A hill upon it slopes to the edge of the cliffs by which the cape is begirt toward the sea; and on the land side it descends so low, that the connection of the hill with the main could not be clearly discerned. To the northward, and nearly in a line with the first, are two other hills almost equal to it in elevation. As we passed Cape Bridgewater, a second cliffy head opened at S. 73½° E. and a further round the last, at N. 83° E. These are the Capes Nelson and Sir W. Grant, though differing considerably in relative position from what they are laid down in captain Grant's chart.

At two o'clock, the weather having become somewhat finer, I ventured to bear away along the coast; and presently a small island with two hummocks on it, and a rock nearer to the shore were visible: these are Lawrence's Isles. The bearings of the land at four were, Before six we hauled the wind offshore; having set the double isle at N. 43° W., six or seven miles, and seen the land indistinctly as far as east-north-east.