Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/343

 At daylight of the 11th, no land was in sight, we therefore stood to the southward to make it, but were obliged to tack off without seeing any, as we shoaled rather suddenly to five fathoms. We then stood to the north-east, close to a fresh land wind from the E.S.E., which brought with it a very unpleasant warmth. As we approached Point Pearce, the land of which,at nine o'clock, came in sight, the water deepened to fifteen and eighteen fathoms. At half-past ten o'clock we were within three miles of the point; when the wind died away, and from the ebbing tide we very soon lost what we had gained during the morning; for there was no anchoring ground fit to trust our only remaining anchor upon. At noon we were about ten miles south-west from Point Pearce. The wind then springing up from the south, sail was set, but the tide being adverse, very little better than a north-east course was made good. Soon after sunset, being three or four miles to the S.S.W. of Point Pearce, we tacked to the southward, with the intention of steering on to make what progress we could during the night.

The attempt was hazardous, as we were strangers to the part; but, if some little risk was not run, we had no chance of penetrating. From fifteen fathoms we deepened to twenty-one, but