headlands. We were greatly delighted with the general look of the country
which exhibited many cultivated spots and beautiful situations; but we
could only see a few small huts whence I concluded that no European
resided in this part of the island. Much sea ran on the shore which made
landing impracticable. At noon we were abreast of a high headland; the
extremes of the land bore south-west half west, and north-north-east half
east; our distance offshore being three miles; latitude by observation 9
degrees 59 minutes south; and my longitude by dead reckoning from the
north part of New Holland 15 degrees 6 minutes west.

With the usual allowance of bread and water for dinner I divided the bird
we had caught the night before, and to the surgeon and Lebogue I gave a
little wine.

The wind blew fresh at east and east-south-east with very hazy weather.
During the afternoon we continued our course along a low shore covered
with innumerable palm-trees, called the Fan Palm from the leaf spreading
like a fan; but here we saw no signs of cultivation, nor had the country
so fine an appearance as to the eastward. This however was only a small
tract, for by sunset it improved again and I saw several great smokes
where the inhabitants were clearing and cultivating their grounds. We had
now run 25 miles to the west-south-west since noon and were west five
miles from a low point which, in the afternoon, I imagined had been the
southernmost land, and here the coast formed a deep bend with low land in
the bight that appeared like islands. The west shore was high; but from
this part of the coast to the high cape which we were abreast of at noon
the shore is low and I believe shoal. I particularly remark this
situation because here the very high ridge of mountains that run from the
east end of the island, terminate, and the appearance of the country
changes for the worse.

That we might not run past any settlement in the night I determined to
preserve my station till the morning and therefore brought to under a
close-reefed foresail. We were here in shoal water, our distance from the
shore being half a league, the westernmost land in sight bearing
west-south-west half west. Served bread and water for supper and, the
boat lying to very well, all but the officer of the watch endeavoured to
get a little sleep.

Saturday 13.

At two in the morning we wore and stood in shore till daylight when I
found we had drifted during the night about