Page:Early voyages to Terra Australis.djvu/241

 OF THE VERGULDR DRAECIC, ETC. 85

coast, and on that occasion tlicir schuyt was capsized and lost.

On the 27th, when about two miles from the coast, latitude 31° 14', the boat was sent on shore, and returned with the report that nothing had been observed but a reef about f [of a mile ?] off the coast seawards.

On the 28th, having arrived at 30° 40', and several fires having been seen on land, the boat was again sent out. The steersman reported that nothing had been observed but a great smoke, and that they had been unable to land with the boat owing to the violence of the surf. Having descried the Emeloort in the offing, they returned with her.

March 2nd, at 30° 6', the Emeloort was separated from them in the night and was lost sight of. On the 5th, they were driven by stormy weather rovuid the south.

The weather continuing cold and wet, they resolved to serve out extra rations of rum to each man.

On the 8th, the weather grey and cold. They supposed themselves to be in 31° 47'. The 18th, saw land to the east- ward, being about 31° 49. At sunset they came to anchor under a north-easterly point of the island, half a mile from land.

On the 19th, a boat was put off in the direction of the island ; the steersman reported its being well wooded, but that no good landing place had been met with, the coast being surrounded by rocky reefs. Two seals were seen there, also one wild cat, and the excrements of other ani- mals. On the 20th, a boat was sent on shore well manned ; the following day several signal-guns were fired, and in the evening the boat returned to the ship, bringing with it a piece of the mast of the Draech, and again returning to land after taking in a supply of provisions, brought back a part of the round-top, a block, and other trifling objects.

On the 22nd, they again sent to shore. At night it blew hard, the waves running very high. A gun was fired and a