Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/465

] tuous squalls, and allowed us to carry very little sail.

8th. About half an hour past six this morning we stood to the north-east, towards the land, near to which a strong breeze at west soon carried us; but we fell to leeward. The coast then stretched almost directly eastward; and the interior land presented the same appearance as on the preceding day. We observed vast yellowish tracks, which appeared to consist of hard stone, on which we did not distinguish the smallest trace of vegetation.

At noon our latitude was 35° 17′ south, and our longitude 115° 12′ east. In a little time the mountains subsided, and we came in sight of a vast plain of sand, in which were interspersed, at great distances, little hills, of which some formed capes, advancing a small way into the sea.

About four o'clock P.M. we passed a cluster of rocks, situated near the coast, and scarcely covered with shrubs, the dismal green of which was a proof of the sterility of the soil. At six, we were abreast of a bay, of which we could not see the farthest extremity. It would have afforded us perfect security against the impetuous winds which blew, while we were upon that coast. A foreland, which advanced from the north-west to the