wstone, is a high rock much
resembling it; and north-north-east from the Mewstone, on the mainland,
is a remarkable high mountain, which in this direction appears notched
like a cock's comb; but as viewed from the eastward seems round.

Wednesday 20.

All the 20th we were endeavouring to get into Adventure Bay but were
prevented by variable winds. The next morning at five o'clock we anchored
in the outer part, and at sunrise weighed again: at noon we anchored well
in the bay and moored the ship, Penguin Island bearing north 57 1/2
degrees east, about two miles distant; Cape Frederic Henry north 23
degrees east; and the mouth of the Lagoon south 16 degrees east.

In our passage from the Cape of Good Hope the winds were mostly from the
westward with very boisterous weather: but one great advantage that this
season of the year has over the summer months is in being free from fogs.
I have already remarked that the approach of strong southerly winds is
announced by many kinds of birds of the albatross or petrel tribe, and
the abatement of the gale, or a shift of wind to the northward, by their
keeping away. The thermometer also very quickly shows when a change of
these winds may be expected by varying sometimes six and seven degrees in
its height. I have reason to believe that, after we passed the island St.
Paul, there was a westerly current; the ship being every day to the
westward of the reckoning, which in the whole, from St. Paul to Van
Diemen's land, made a difference of four degrees between the longitude by
the reckoning and the true longitude.

Thursday 21.

The ship being moored I went in a boat to look out for the most
convenient place to wood and water at, which I found to be at the west
end of the beach: for the surf, though considerable, was less there than
at any other part of the bay. The water was in a gully about sixty yards
from the beach; it was perfectly good but, being only a collection from
the rains, the place is always dry in the summer months; for we found no
water in it when I was here with Captain Cook in January 1777. We had
very little success in hauling the seine; about twenty small flounders,
and flat-headed fish called foxes were all that were taken.

I found no signs of the natives having lately frequented this bay or of
any European vessels having been here since the Resolution and Discovery
in 1777. From some of the old trunks of trees then cut down I saw shoots
about twenty-five feet