Page:Early voyages to Terra Australis.djvu/311

 DAMTTKR .S VOYAGFS. 155

search among any otlier of these ishmds with my hoat ; or else go from thencej and coast along shore with the ship, till Ave could find some better place than this was to ride in, where we had shoal water, and lay exposed to winds and tides. They all agreed to go from licnce ; so I gave orders to weigh in the morning as soon as it should be light, and to get out with the land breeze.

Accordingly, August the 23rd, at five in the morning, we ran out, having a pretty fresh land breeze at S.S.E, By eight o'clock we were got out, and very seasonably, for before nine the sea breeze came on us very strong, and increasing, we took in our topsails and stood off under two courses and a mizen, this being as much sail as we could carry. The sky was clear, there being not one cloud to be seen ; but the horizon appeared very hazy, and the sun at setting the night before, and this morning at rising, appeared very red. The wind continued very strong till twelve, then it began to abate : I have seldom met with a stronger breeze. These strong sea breezes lasted thus in their turns three or four days. They sprung up with the sunrise ; by nine a clock they were very strong, and so continued till noon, when they began to abate ; and by sunset there was little wind, or a calm till the land breezes came ; which we should certainly have in the morning about one or two a clock. The land breezes were between the S.S.W. and S.S.E. In the night while calm, we fish'd with hook and line, and caught good store offish, viz., snappers, breams, old wives and dog fish. When these last came we seldom caught any others; for if they did not drive away the other fish, yet they would be sure to keep them from taking our hooks, for they would first have them themselves, biting very greedily. We caught also a monk-fish, of which I brought home the picture.

On the 25th of August, we still coasted along shore, that we might the better see any opening ; kept sounding, and had about twenty fathom clean sand. The 26th day, being