e
time before he spoke of it, and, when asked why he did not
mention it sooner, he said that he took it for the reflection of
the setting-sun; forgetting that the sun, if it had been visible,
set to the westward: this circumstance occasioned Lieutenant Ball
to name it "-Booby shoal:-" its latitude is 21 deg. 24'
south, and the longitude, by the time-keeper, 159 deg. 24' east
of Greenwich. Immediately after passing this shoal, we found the
same high hollow sea running as we had in the morning.

At noon on the 3d of May, our latitude was 12 deg. 13' south,
and the longitude, by the time-keeper, 161 deg. 33' east. We were
now drawing near the situation in which Lieutenant Shortland had
discovered land, and being surrounded by birds, and a number of
trees floating about the vessel, we were induced to suppose
ourselves not far distant from it. In the evening of the 4th we
sounded, but got no ground with 150 fathoms of line. The next
morning high land was seen, bearing from north-north-west to
west-north-west, seven or eight leagues distant; it seemed to
trend about north-north-east, and south-south-west. At noon, the
latitude was 11 deg. 7' south, and the longitude 162 deg. 34'
east: the northernmost land bore north by west, five leagues
distant: it appeared like a small island covered with trees; and
in the center of it there is a conspicuous mount, formed by some
very high trees: the land to the west-ward, which extends from
this island as far as north-west a quarter north, is low, and in
clumps like islands. The weather now was very hot and sultry,
with dark heavy clouds all round the horizon: we had also a great
deal of thunder and lightning, attended with heavy rain.

In the afternoon of the 6th, we perceived the northernmost
land to be two small islands, which appeared to trend
north-north-east and south-south-west; the main land lying a
little to the westward of them. The easternmost of these two
islands Lieutenant Ball named Sirius's-Island; it is situated in
10 deg. 52' south latitude, and 162 deg. 30' east longitude: the
other was named Massey's-Island. We observed by the land, that a
very strong current, or tide, set us fast to the northward. It is
unfortunate that the changeable state of the wind and weather did
not permit us to range this coast, by hauling in with the land,
as something might have probably been discovered, without
occasioning any loss of time. In the evening we had very heavy
squalls, atten