early australian voyages-第19节
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d to be seen； but very hazy； especially nigh the horizon。 We sounded several times this 20th day； and at first had no ground； but had afterwards from fifty… two to forty…five fathom； coarse brown sand； mixed with small brown and white stones； with dints besides in the tallow。
The 21st day also we had small land breezes in the night； and sea breezes in the day； and as we saw some sea…snakes every day； so this day we saw a great many； of two different sorts or shapes。 One sort was yellow； and about the bigness of a man's wrist； about four feet long； having a flat tail about four fingers broad。 The other sort was much smaller and shorter； round； and spotted black and yellow。 This day we sounded several times； and had forty…five fathom； sand。 We did not make the land till noon； and then saw it first from our topmast head； it bore south…east by east about nine leagues distance； and it appeared like a cape or head of land。 The sea breeze this day was not so strong as the day before； and it veered out more； so that we had a fair wind to run in with to the shore； and at sunset anchored in twenty fathom； clean sand； about five leagues from the Bluff point； which was not a cape （as it appeared at a great distance）； but the easternmost end of an island about five or six leagues in length； and one in breadth。 There were three or four rocky islands about a league from us； between us and the Bluff point； and we saw many other islands both to the east and west of it； as far as we could see either way from our topmast…head； and all within them to the south there was nothing but islands of a pretty height； that may be seen eight or nine leagues off； by what we saw of them they must have been a range of islands of about twenty leagues in length； stretching from east…north…east to west… south…west； and； for aught I know； as far as to those of Shark's Bay； and to a considerable breadth also； for we could see nine or ten leagues in among them； towards the continent or mainland of New Holland； if there be any such thing hereabouts； and by the great tides I met with awhile afterwards； more to the north…east； I had a strong suspicion that here might be a kind of archipelago of islands； and a passage possibly to the south of New Holland and New Guinea into the great South Sea eastward； which I had thoughts also of attempting in my return from New Guinea； had circumstances permitted； and told my officers so； but I would not attempt it at this time； because we wanted water； and could not depend upon finding it there。 This place is in the latitude of 20 degrees 21 minutes； but in the draught that I had of this coast； which was Tasman's； it was laid down in 19 degrees 50 minutes； and the shore is laid down as all along joining in one body or continent； with some openings appearing like rivers； and not like islands as really they are。 This place lies more northerly by 40 minutes than is laid down in Mr。 Tasman's draught； and besides its being made a firm continued land； only with some openings like the mouths of rivers； I found the soundings also different from what the pricked line of his course shows them； and generally shallower than he makes them； which inclines me to think that he came not so near the shore as his line shows； and so had deeper soundings； and could not so well distinguish the islands。 His meridian or difference of longitude from Shark's Bay agrees well enough with my account； which is two hundred and thirty…two leagues； though we differ in latitude； and to confirm my conjecture that the line of his course is made too near the shore； at least not far to the east of this place； the water is there so shallow that he could not come there so nigh。
But to proceed。 In the night we had a small land breeze； and in the morning I weighed anchor； designing to run in among the islands； for they had large channels between them of a league wide at least； and some two or three leagues wide。 I sent in my boat before to sound； and if they found shoal water to return again； but if they found water enough to go ashore on one of the islands and stay till the ship came in； where they might in the meantime search for water。 So we followed after with the ship； sounding as we went in； and had twenty fathom till within two leagues of the Bluff head； and then we had shoal water and very uncertain soundings； yet we ran in still with an easy sail； sounding and looking out well； for this was dangerous work。 When we came abreast of the Bluff head； and about two miles from it； we had but seven fathom； then we edged away from it； but had no more water； and running in a little farther we had but four fathoms； so we anchored immediately； and yet when we had veered out a third of a cable； we had seven fathom water again； so uncertain was the water。 My boat came immediately on board； and told me that the island was very rocky and dry； and they had little hopes of finding water there。 I sent them to sound； and bade them； if they found a channel of eight or ten fathom water； to keep on； and we would follow with the ship。 We were now about four leagues within the outer small rocky islands； but still could see nothing but islands within us； some five or six leagues long； others not above a mile round。 The large islands were pretty high； but all appeared dry； and mostly rocky and barren。 The rocks looked of a rusty yellow colour； and therefore I despaired of getting water on any of them； but was in some hopes of finding a channel to run in beyond all these islands； could I have spent time here； and either got to the main of New Holland or find out some other islands that might afford us water and other refreshments； besides that among so many islands we might have found some sort of rich mineral； or ambergris； it being a good latitude for both these。 But we had not sailed above a league farther before our water grew shoaler again； and then we anchored in six fathom； hard sand。
We were now on the inner side of the island； on whose outside is the Bluff point。 We rode a league from the island； and I presently went ashore and carried shovels to dig for water； but found none。 There grow here two or three sorts of shrubs； one just like rosemary； and therefore I called this Rosemary Island； it grew in great plenty here； but had no smell。 Some of the other shrubs had blue and yellow flowers； and we found two sorts of grain like beans； the one grew on bushes； the other on a sort of creeping vine that runs along on the ground； having very thick broad leaves； and the blossom like a bean blossom； but much larger and of a deep red colour； looking very beautiful。 We saw here some cormorants； gulls； crab…catchers； etc。； a few small land birds； and a sort of white parrots； which flew a great many together。 We found some shell…fish； viz。； limpets； periwinkles； and abundance of small oysters growing on the rocks； which were very sweet。 In the sea we saw some green turtle； many sharks； and abundance of water…snakes of several sorts and sizes。 The stones were all of rusty colour； and ponderous。
We saw a smoke on an island three or four leagues off； and here also the bushes had been burned； but we found no other sign of inhabitants。 It was probable that on the island where the smoke was there were inhabitants； and fresh water for them。 In the evening I went aboard； and consulted with my officers whether it was best to send thither； or to search among any other of these islands with my boat； or else go from hence and coast along shore with the ship； till we could find some better place than this was to ride in； where we had shoal water and lay exposed to winds and tides。 They all agreed to go from hence； so I gave orders to weigh in the morning as soon as it should be light； and to get out with the land breeze。
Accordingly； August 23rd； at five in the morning； we ran out； having a pretty fresh land breeze at south…south…east。 By eight o'clock we were got out； and very seasonably； for before nine the sea breeze came on us very strong； and increasing； we took in our top…sails and stood off under two courses and a mizen； this being as much sail as we could carry。 The sky was clear； there being not one cloud to be seen； but the horizon appeared very hazy； and the sun at setting the night before； and this morning at rising； appeared very red。 The wind continued very strong till twelve； then it began to abate； I have seldom met with a stronger breeze。 These strong sea breezes lasted thus in their turns three or four days。 They sprang up with the sunrise； by nine o'clock they were very strong； and so continued till noon； when they began to abate； and by sunset there was little wind； or a calm； till the land breezes came； which we should certainly have in the morning about one or two o'clock。 The land breezes were between the south…south…west and south…south…east： the sea breezes between the east…north…east and north…north…east。 In the night while calm； we fished with hook and line； and caught good store of fish viz。； snappers； breams； old…wives； and dog…fish。 When these last came we seldom caught any others； for it they did not drive away the other fish； yet they would be sure to keep them from taking our hooks； for they would first have them themselves； biting very
