nearest of them about two miles distant, and a low
sandy key between us and the cape bore west distant four miles. My course
from the lagoon island had been north half west distant 30 miles.

I am sorry it was not in my power to obtain a sufficient knowledge of the
depth of water but in our situation nothing could be undertaken that
might have occasioned delay. It may however be understood that to the
best of my judgment from appearances a ship may pass wherever I have
omitted to represent danger.

I divided six birds and issued one 25th of a pound of bread with half a
pint of water to each person for dinner, and I gave half a glass of wine
to Nelson, who was now so far recovered as to require no other
indulgence.

The gunner when he left the ship brought his watch with him, by which we
had regulated out time till today, when unfortunately it stopped; so that
noon, sunrise, and sunset, are the only parts of the 24 hours of which
from henceforward I can speak with certainty as to time.

The wind blew fresh from the south-south-east and south-east all the
afternoon with fair weather. As we stood to the north by west we found
more sea, which I attributed to our receiving less shelter from the reefs
to the eastward: it is probable they did not extend so far north as this;
at least it may be concluded that there is not a continued barrier to
prevent shipping having access to the shore. I observed that the stream
set to the north-west, which I considered to be the flood. In some places
along the coast we saw patches of wood. At five o'clock, steering to the
north-west, we passed a large and fair inlet into which I imagine there
is a safe and commodious entrance; it lies in latitude 11 degrees south.
About three leagues to the northward of this is an island, at which we
arrived about sunset, and took shelter for the night under a sandy point
which was the only part we could land at. This being rather a wild
situation I thought it best to sleep in the boat: nevertheless I sent a
party away to see if anything could be got, but they returned without
success. They saw a great number of turtle bones and shells where the
natives had been feasting, and their last visit seemed to be of late
date. The island was covered with wood, but in other respects it was a
lump of rocks.

Wednesday 3.

We lay at a grapnel till daylight with a very fresh gale and cloudy
weather. The main bore from south-east by south to north-north-west half