Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/521

] cover there a harbour which would afford great advantages to future navigators, who might intend to reconnoitre the south-west coast of New Holland, by availing themselves of the south-west wind.

19th. By half past four in the morning, we saw the land, extending from N.E. ¼ N. to E. ¼ S.E. the nearest part bearing E.N.E., distant 15,400 toises.

For some time we stood on the starboard tack, close upon the wind, which blew from south-west. Two hours afterwards, when we were not more than 7,800 toises from the shore, a line of seventy-five fathoms indicated a bottom of very coarse sand, and broken shells.

The shore we saw was steep, and at a little distance, was a chain of mountains, of moderate elevation, which nearly followed the same direction. The land was almost wholly covered with large trees.

At noon, we were in 42° 51′ S. lat., and 142° 49′ E. long. The land to the north-east, could only be seen through a thick fog, which obscured the whole horizon.

20th. The variation of the compass had very rapidly increased since it became easterly; for it was now observed to be 7° east. The