Page:Captain Cook's Journal during His First Voyage Round the World.djvu/247

Dec. 1769.] from each other, being to all appearance only seperated by a low neck of land from which juts out a Peninsula or head land, which I have named Knockle Point. W. by S. 6 Leagues from this point and about the Middle of the Bay is a high Mountain or Hill standing upon a desart shore, on which account we called it Mount Camel; Lat. 34° 51′; Long. 186° 50′. In this Bay we had 24 and 25 fathoms Water, the bottom good for Anchorage, but their seems to be nothing that can induce Shipping to put into it for no Country upon Earth can look more barren than the land about this bay doth. It is in general low, except the Mountain just Mentioned, and the Soil to all appearance nothing but white sand thrown up in low irregular hills, lying in Narrow ridges parrallel with the shore; this occasioned me to name it Sandy Bay. The first ridge behind the Sea beach is partly cover'd with Shrubs, Plants, etc., but the second ridge hath hardly any green thing upon it, which induced me to think that it lies open to the Western Sea. As barren as this land appears it is not without inhabitants. We saw a Village on this Side of Mount Camel, and another on the Eastern side of the Bay, besides 5 Canoes that were pulling off to the Ship, but did not come up with us. At 9 a.m. we tacked and stood to the Northward at Noon. Latitude in P. observation 34° 38′. The Cavalle Isles bore S.E. by E., distant 13 Leagues; the Northern Extremity of the land in sight making like an Island bore N.W. ¼ N., distant 9 Leagues, and Mount Camel bore S.W. by S., distant 6 Leagues. Tacked and stood in Shore.

Monday, 11th.—Gentle breezes at N. M.ᵈ and pleasant weather. Keept plying all the day, but got very little to Windward; at Noon was in the Latitude of 34° 32′ S., the Northermost inland set yesterday at noon bore N.W. by W., distant 6 or 7 Leagues.

Tuesday, 12th.—Moderate breezes of Wind between the N.W. and N. and Smooth Water, yet we gain'd very little in plying to Windward; at Noon Mount Camel bore S. by W. ¼, distant 4 or 5 Leagues. Lat. observed 34° 34′ S.

Wednesday, 13th.—Fore part of P.M., Moderate breezes at N. by W. and fair weather; stood in shore until 5 O'Clock, at which time we tack'd and stood to the N.E. being 2 Leagues to the Northward of Mount Camel and 1½ Mile from shore, and this situation had 22 fathoms water. At 10 it began to blow and rain, which brought us under double Reeft Top sails; at 12 Tack'd and Stood to the Westward until 7 A.M. when we Tack'd and stood again to N.E., being at this time about a Mile to windward of the place where we tack'd last night. Soon after we Tack'd it came on to blow very hard at N.N.W. with heavy squalls attended with rain, this brought us under our Courses and Split the Main