a one as we had never seen before. We have seen several Seals since we passed the Straits, but never saw one upon the whole Coast of Aeheinomouwe. We sounded both in the Night and the morning, but found no bottom with 150 fathoms Line; at Noon we saw Cape Saunders bearing N. ½ W.; our Lat. by observation was 46° 31′ S.[1]
Monday, 5th.—Most part of P.M. had a fresh breeze at N. by E. Half past 1 saw Land bearing W. by S., which we steer'd for; before dark we were within 3 or 4 Leagues of it, and seeing no land farther to the S. we were in hopes this would prove the Southern point. At 7 shortned sail, and kept under an easy sail all night, standing to the W.S.W., having the wind at N.W., and N.N.W. until 2 a.m., when it fell Calm, and soon after a breeze sprung up at S.E. by S., and daylight coming on we made sail. During the whole night we saw a large fire upon the land; a certain sign of its being inhabited. At 7 the Extreams of the land bore from N. 38° E. to W. 6° S., being distant from the Shore about 3 Leagues. The land appear'd of a Moderate height, and not hilly. At ½ past 10 o'Clock the westermost land in sight bore W. ½ N., distant 7 Leagues; at Noon had fresh Gales at S.S.E., and thick hazey weather with rain. Our Latitude by account was 46° 50′ S., and Longitude made from Cape Saunders 1° 56′ W.[2]
Tuesday, 6th.—P.M. Winds at S. by E. and S.E, and thick hazey weather until 3 o'clock, when it clear'd up, and we saw the land extending from N.E. by N. to N.W. ½ N., and soon after low land, making like an Island, bearing W. ½ S. Keeping on our Course to the W. by S., we in 2 hours' time saw high land over the low, extending to the Southward as far as S.W. by S.; we could not see this land join to that to the Northward of us, there either being a total seperation, a deep Bay, or low land between them. At 8 o'Clock, being within 3 Leagues of the low land (which we now took to be an Island[3]), we Tack'd and stood to the Eastward, having the wind at South, which proved very unsettled all night; by which means, and a little bad management, I found the Ship in the morning considerably farther to the Eastward than I expected, and the wind afterwards coming to S.W. and W.S.W., so that at noon we found ourselves much about the same place as we were Yesterday, our Latitude by observation being 46° 50′ S., the land extending from N.E. by E. to W. by N. ½ N,, the nearest part bearing N., distance 3 Leagues; the land to the S.W. just in sight.
Wednesday, 7th.—Light Airs in the S.W. quarter. P.M. Clear
