August.
to the navigator, as the approach to land or shoal water is indicated by the thermometer, in many places, with a high degree of sensibility. A remarkable instance of this kind occurs off the west coast of Africa, of which an account is given in the first volume of this narrative.[1]
Stormy weather during the three following days prevented our trying for soundings to a greater depth than four hundred fathoms, at which we did not reach the bottom. The appearance of solan geese, numerous patches of seaweed, and a remarkable degree of phosphorescence of the water, indicated our approach to land. It was seen at 9 a.m. of the 15th, bearing S.E. At noon, in lat. 34º S. and long. 172º E., we had no soundings with three hundred and fifty fathoms; the Three Kings bearing from S. 50º E. to S. 8º E., distant between seven and eight leagues. The wind being fresh from the N.E., with a heavy sea running, we stood towards the islands on the port tack, but should not have weathered them, had we not been assisted by a strong tide to windward; between the principal of the three islands and the small islet at the N.E. extreme, we observed a reef of rocks just above water, over which the waves were breaking furiously. We could not discern any bay or harbour on the north side of the island, which Tasman named the island of the Three Kings, in allusion to the day (Epiphany) on which he is said to have cast anchor off it. From our ships it had the
- ↑ [[../../Volume 1/Chapter 2#34|Page 34.]]
