Cape St. Diego bore at this time S. by E. about 4 Leagues Distant. At ½ past 7 Tackt and Stood to the S.E., Cape St. Diego bearing S. by E., distance 5 Leagues. At 1 a.m., Squally, wore Ship, Staten Land extending from N. to E. At 4, Moderate Weather, loosed a Reef out of each Topsail, the Cape of Good Success W. by S., and Cape St. Diego N.N.W., being now in the Strait, but the Tide turning against us soon carried us out. The Violence of the Tide of Ebb rose such a Sea off Cape St. Diego, that it looked as if it was breaking Violently on the ledge of Rocks, and would be taken for such by any who know'd not the true cause. When the Ship was in this Torrent she frequently Pitched her Bowsprit in the Water. By Noon we got under the Land between Cape St. Diego and Cape St. Vincent, where I thought to have Anchored, but found the Bottom every where hard and Rocky; the Depth of Water from 30 to 12 fathoms. Sent the Master to Examine a small Cove which appeared to our View a little to the Eastward of Cape St. Vincent. Wind S.S.W. and S.W. by S.
Sunday, 15th.—Moderate breezes at S. and S.E., and cloudy weather, the greater part of this day. At 2 p.m. the Master return’d with an account that there was Anchorage in 4 fathoms Water and a good bottom close to the Eastward of the first black bluff point which is on the East side of Cape St. Vincent, at the very Entrance of the Cove we saw from the Ship (which I named Vincent Bay). Before this Anchoring ground lay several Rocky Ledges covered with Sea Weed: on these Ledges I was informed was not less than 8 or 9 fathoms, but in standing in with the Ship the first we came upon had only 4 fathoms upon it. I therefore thought that Anchoring here would be attended with some Risk, and that it would be better to Endeavour to find some Port in the Strait, and there Compleat our Wood and Water. However, I sent an Officer with a Boat on shore to attend to Mr. Banks and people who was very desirous of being on shore at any rate, while I keept plying as near the shore as possible with the Ship. At 9 they return'd on board bringing with them several Plants, Flowers, etc., most of them unknown in Europe, and in that Alone consisted their whole Value; they saw none of the Natives, but meet with several of their old Hutts. Hoisted the Boat in and made Sail into the Straits and at 3 a.m. Anchord in 12½ fathoms Water (the bottom Coral rocks) before a small Cove which we took for Port Maurice, and near ½ a Mile from the shore Cape St. Diego S.S.W., and Cape St. Bartholomew (which is the south point of Staten Land) E.S.E.
Port Maurice appeared to afford so little Shelter for Shipping that I did not think it worth while to hoist a Boat out to Examine it; we saw here 2 of the Natives come down to the Shore, who
