early australian voyages-第18节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which was begun to be low； and partly for the sake of discovering this part of the coast。 I was invited to go further by seeing from this anchoring…place all open before me； which therefore I designed to search before I left the bay。 So on the 11th about noon I steered further in； with an easy sail； because we had but shallow water。 We kept； therefore； good looking out for fear of shoals； sometimes shortening； sometimes deepening the water。 About two in the afternoon we saw the land ahead that makes the south of the bay； and before night we had again sholdings from that shore； and therefore shortened sail and stood off and on all night； under two topsails； continually sounding； having never more than ten fathom； and seldom less than seven。 The water deepened and sholdened so very gently； that in heaving the lead five or six times we should scarce have a foot difference。 When we came into seven fathom either way； we presently went about。 From this south part of the bay we could not see the land from whence we came in the afternoon； and this land we found to be an island of three or four leagues long； but it appearing barren； I did not strive to go nearer it； and the rather because the winds would not permit us to do it without much trouble； and at the openings the water was generally shoal： I therefore made no farther attempts in this south…west and south part of the bay； but steered away to the eastward； to see if there was any land that way； for as yet we had seen none there。 On the 12th； in the morning； we passed by the north point of that land； and were confirmed in the persuasion of its being an island by seeing an opening to the east of it； as we had done on the west。 Having fair weather； a small gale； and smooth water； we stood further on in the bay to see what land was on the east of it。 Our soundings at first were seven fathom； which held so a great while； but at length it decreased to six。 Then we saw the land right ahead。 We could not come near it with the ship； having but shoal water； and it being dangerous lying there； and the land extraordinarily low； very unlikely to have fresh water （though it had a few trees on it； seemingly mangroves）； and much of it probably covered at high water； I stood out again that afternoon； deepening the water； and before night anchored in eight fathom； clean white sand； about the middle of the bay。 The next day we got up our anchor； and that afternoon came to an anchor once more near two islands and a shoal of coral rocks that face the bay。 Here I scrubbed my ship； and finding it very improbable I should get any further here； I made the best of my way out to sea again； sounding all the way； but finding； by the shallowness of the water； that there was no going out to sea to the east of the two islands that face the bay； nor between them； I returned to the west entrance； going out by the same way I came in at； only on the east instead of the west side of the small shoal： in which channel we had ten； twelve； and thirteen fathom water； still deepening upon us till we were out at sea。 The day before we came out I sent a boat ashore to the most northerly of the two islands； which is the least of them； catching many small fish in the meanwhile； with hook and line。 The boat's crew returning told me that the isle produces nothing but a sort of green； short； hard； prickly grass； affording neither wood nor fresh water； and that a sea broke between the two islandsa sign that the water was shallow。 They saw a large turtle； and many skates and thornbacks； but caught none。
It was August the 14th when I sailed out of this bay or sound； the mouth of which lies； as I said； in 25 degrees 5 minutes； designing to coast along to the north…east till I might commodiously put in at some other port of New Holland。 In passing out we saw three water… serpents swimming about in the sea； of a yellow colour spotted with dark brown spots。 They were each about four foot long； and about the bigness of a man's wrist； and were the first I saw on this coast； which abounds with several sorts of them。 We had the winds at our first coming out at north； and the land lying north…easterly。 We plied off and on； getting forward but little till the next day； when the wind coming at south…south…west and south； we began to coast it along the shore on the northward； keeping at six or seven leagues off shore； and sounding often； we had between forty and forty…six fathom water； brown sand with some white shells。 This 15th of August we were in latitude 24 degrees 41 minutes。 On the 16th day； at noon； we were in 23 degrees 22 minutes。 The wind coming at east by north； we could not keep the shore aboard； but were forced to go farther off； and lost sight of the land； then sounding； we had no ground with eighty…fathom line。 However； the wind shortly after came about again to the southward； and then we jogged on again to the northward； and saw many small dolphins and whales； and abundance of cuttle…shells swimming on the sea； and some water…snakes every day。 The 17th we saw the land again and took a sight of it。
The 18th； in the afternoon； being three or four leagues off shore； I saw a shoal…point stretching from the land into the sea a league or more； the sea broke high on it； by which I saw plainly there was a shoal there。 I stood farther off and coasted along shore to about seven or eight leagues distance； and at twelve o'clock at night we sounded； and had but twenty fathom； hard sand。 By this I found I was upon another shoal； and so presently steered off west half an hour； and had then forty fathom。 At one in the morning of the 18th day we had eighty…five fathom； by two we could find no ground； and then I ventured to steer along shore again due north； which is two points wide of the coast （that lies north…north…east）； for fear of another shoal。 I would not be too far off from the land； being desirous to search into it wherever I should find an opening or any convenience of searching about for water； etc。 When we were off the shoal…point I mentioned； where we had but twenty fathom water； we had in the night abundance of whales about the ship； some ahead； others astern； and some on each side； blowing and making a very dismal noise； but when we came out again into deeper water； they left us； indeed； the noise that they made by blowing and dashing of the sea with their tails； making it all of a breach and foam； was very dreadful to us； like the breach of the waves in very shoal water or among rocks。 The shoal these whales were upon had depth of water sufficient； no less than twenty fathom； as I said； and it lies in latitude 22 degrees 22 minutes。 The shore was generally bold all along。 We had met with no shoal at sea since the Abrohlo shoal； when we first fell on the New Holland coast in the latitude of 28 degrees； till yesterday in the afternoon and this night。 This morning also； when we expected by the draught we had with us to have been eleven leagues off shore； we were but four； so that either our draughts were faulty； which yet hitherto and afterwards we found true enough as to the lying of the coast； or else here was a tide unknown to us that deceived us； though we had found very little of any tide on this coast hitherto； as to our winds in the coasting thus far； as we had been within the verge of the general trade （though interrupted by the storm I mentioned）； from the latitude of 28 degrees； when we first fell in with the coast； and by that time we were in the latitude of 25 degrees； we had usually the regular trade wind （which is here south…south…east） when we were at any distance from shore； but we had often sea and land breezes； especially when near shore and when in Shark's Bay； and had a particular north…west wind or storm that set us in thither。 On this 18th of August we coasted with a brisk gale of the true trade wind at south…south…east； very fair and clear weather； but hauling off in the evening to sea； were next morning out of sight of land； and the land now trending away north…easterly； and we being to the northward of it； and the wind also shrinking from the south…south…east to the east…south…east （that is； from the true trade wind to the sea breeze； as the land now lay）； we could not get in with the land again yet awhile so as to see it； though we trimmed sharp and kept close on a wind。 We were this 19th day in latitude 21 degrees 42 minutes。 The 20th we were in latitude 19 degrees 37 minutes； and kept close on a wind to get sight of the land again； but could not yet see it。 We had very fair weather； and though we were so far from the land as to be out of sight of it； yet we had the sea and land breezes。 In the night we had the land breeze at south…south… east； a small gentle gale； which in the morning about sun…rising would shift about gradually （and withal increasing in strength） till about noon we should have it at east…south…east； which is the true sea breeze here。 Then it would blow a brisk gale so that we could scarce carry our top…sails double…reefed； and it would continue thus till three in the afternoon； when it would decrease again。 The weather was fair all the while； not a cloud to be seen； but very hazy； especially nigh the horizon。 We sounded several times this 20th day； a
