144
VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
from the water-ſide, and the little verdure that was viſible was on the tops of the hills, which were crowned with low, ſhaggy buſhes, that gradually diminiſhed in quantity as they hung down the declivities; and were ſometimes divided by veins of an hard, black, ſhining earth, which, at a ſmall diſtance, had the appearance of ſtreamlets of water. The ſtorm petrels accompanied us in great numbers: but the wind coming right out with a current or tide, that was ſo rapid, as to be attended with ſome degree of danger, we gave up our deſign of reaching the head of the bay, particularly as night was approaching, and darkneſs would have overtaken us. When I returned on board, I found the ſhip laying between two winds, and becalmed within half a mile of the ſhore, where no bottom could be obtained with one hundred and fifty fathom of line. In this ſituation we were near an hour, with flaws of wind all round the compaſs, and heavy ſhowers. At laſt, we caught a Southerly wind and made ſail to the Weſtward, and when clear of the ſhore, hove to for the night. The weather was dark and gloomy, with heavy dews and a ſtrong ſoutherly current; ſo that at day-light we were ſet nearly as far to the South as we were on the preceding noon. At noon our Latitude was 0° 35′ 6″ South: the extremities of land bearing from North 12° Eaſt, to Eaſt 37° South.
