Early Australian Voyages | Page 7

a sandy bottom; but when they attempted to enter it, the sea ran
so high that they were forced to desist.

On the 10th they remained on the same coast, plying to and again, as
they had done the day before; but the weather growing worse and
worse, they were obliged to abandon their shallop, and even throw part
of their breath overboard, because it hindered them from clearing
themselves of the water, which their vessel began to make very fast.
That night it rained most terribly, which, though it gave them much
trouble, afforded them hopes that it would prove a great relief to the
people they had left behind them on the islands. The wind began to sink
on the 11th; and as it blew from the west- south-west, they continued
their course to the north, the sea running still so high that it was
impossible to approach the shore. On the 12th, they had an observation,
by which they found themselves in the latitude of 27 degrees; they
sailed with a south-east wind all that day along the coast, which they
found so steep that there was no getting on shore, inasmuch as there
was no creek or low land without the rocks, as is commonly observed
on seacoasts; which gave them the more pain because within land the
country appeared very fruitful and pleasant. They found themselves on
the 13th in the latitude of 25 degrees 40 minutes; by which they
discovered that the current set to the north. They were at this time over
against an opening; the coast lying to the north-east, they continued a
north course, but found the coast one continued rock of red colour all of
a height, against which the waves broke with such force that it was
impossible for them to land.
The wind blew very fresh in the morning on the 14th, but towards noon
it fell calm; they were then in the height of 24 degrees, with a small
gale at east, but the tide still carried them further north than they
desired, because their design was to make a descent as soon as possible;
and with this view they sailed slowly along the coast, till, perceiving a
great deal of smoke at a distance, they rowed towards it as fast as they
were able, in hopes of finding men, and water, of course. When they
came near the shore, they found it so steep, so full of rocks, and the sea
beating over them with such fury, that it was impossible to land. Six of
the men, however, trusting to their skill in swimming, threw themselves
into the sea and resolved to get on shore at any rate, which with great
difficulty and danger they at last effected, the boat remaining at anchor
in twenty-five fathoms water. The men on shore spent the whole day in
looking for water; and while they were thus employed, they saw four

men, who came up very near; but one of the Dutch sailors advancing
towards them, they immediately ran away as fast as they were able, so
that they were distinctly seen by those in the boat. These people were
black savages, quite naked, not having so much as any covering about
their middle. The sailors, finding no hopes of water on all the coast,
swam on board again, much hurt and wounded by their being beat by
the waves upon the rocks; and as soon as they were on board, they
weighed anchor, and continued their course along the shore, in hopes of
finding some better landing- place.
On the 25th, in the morning, they discovered a cape, from the point of
which there ran a ridge of rocks a mile into the sea, and behind it
another ridge of rocks. They ventured between them, as the sea was
pretty calm; but finding there was no passage, they soon returned.
About noon they saw another opening, and the sea being still very
smooth, they entered it, though the passage was very dangerous,
inasmuch as they had but two feet water, and the bottom full of stones,
the coast appearing a flat sand for about a mile. As soon as they got on
shore they fell to digging in the sand, but the water that came into their
wells was so brackish that they could not drink it, though they were on
the very point of choking for thirst. At last, in the hollows of the rocks,
they met with considerable quantities of rain-water, which was a great
relief to them, since they had been for some days at no better allowance
than a pint a-piece. They soon furnished themselves in the night with
about eighty gallons, perceiving, in the place where they landed, that
the savages had been there lately,