Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/176

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
166
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1792.

broiled ſhell-fiſh, which had evidently ſerved for food to the natives.

25th. As we had hardly any wind, we weighed anchor a few hours before day-light, in order to be towed into the harbour. As the calm continued, this proved the moſt expeditious method, and we were ſoon brought into our anchoring place. We ranged at a ſmall diſtance from a rock ſituated about the middle of the entrance, leaving it to our left. Our ſoundings indicated a depth of 2½ to 3½ fathoms; in other parts of the ſame ſtrait it was from 4½ to 11½.

About eight o'clock, we caſt anchor in a depth of three fathoms, 350 toiſes from the entrace of the harbour, to which we gave the name of Port Dentrecaſteaux. The neareſt ſhore was at the diſtance of about 250 toiſes to the eaſtward.

It is difficult to expreſs the ſenſations we felt, at finding ourſelves at length ſheltered in this ſolitary harbour at the extremity of the globe, after having been ſo long driven to and fro in the ocean by the violence of the ſtorms.

The boats afterwards towed in the Eſperance, which caſt anchor about one o'clock in the afternoon, at a diſtance of 150 toiſes ſouthward of the Recherche. At firſt we had attempted to approach nearer to the ſhore without taking the ſoundings accurately; but we ſoon found our-

ſelves