and fifty miles during the last twenty-four hours. The wind still blew in our favour, but stronger than we wished, and in sudden squalls, which, intermingled with thunder, lightning, and rain, kept us constantly on the alert, as we pursued our precarious path across the Timor Sea.
On the first of June, about six, P.M., we discovered land. To say that this event caused universal joy, would convey but a faint idea of the feelings that pervaded every bosom. Next morning, at daylight, we found ourselves within a few miles of the projecting land to the eastward of "the bay of the Pearl bank," when, directing our course to the westward, and keeping within a short distance of the shore, we made all the sail we could, hoping to reach Coupang before dark; but this expectation, notwithstanding the wind blew fresh and fair, was not realized: and, as the day declined, fearing that we might be driven past the Island during the night, we thought it prudent to take shelter, until the morning, in a small bay which appeared suitable to that purpose; and to which we accordingly steered, until the sight and sound of broken water compelled us to alter our course.
We then proceeded towards a sandy beach, where we purposed to run the boat on shore: on approaching it, however, the surf appeared so very heavy, that had we persisted in our intention, the boat would have been probably dashed to pieces; or, had we succeeded in getting her safely on shore, to launch her again
