Friday, 8th.—Forepart of P.M. had a Gentle breeze at N.N.W., with which we stood in shore and fetched close under the Cavalle Islands. They are a Group of Small Islands lying close under the Main land, and 7 Leagues N. 60 W. from Cape Brett, and 3½ Leagues from Point Rodney. From these Islands the Main land trends W. by N. We were here Visited by several Canoes, and the People in them seem'd desirous of Trafficking with us, but at this time a breeze of wind sprung up at S., they could not keep up with the Ship, and I would not wait for them. The wind did not continue long at So. before it veer'd to S.W. and W., a light breeze. Found the Variation in the Evening to be 12° 42′ E., and in the Morning 13° E. Keept standing to the W.N.W. and N.W. until 10 A.M., at which time we tacked and stood in for the Shore, being about 5 Leagues off, and in this situation had 118 fathoms Water. At Noon Cape Brett bore S.E., distant 13 Leagues, and the Westermost land in sight bore W. by S., being at this time about 4 Leagues from Land. Latitude in per Observation, 34° 42′ S.
Saturday, 9th.—P.M., had a Gentle Breeze at W., which in the Evening came to So. and continued so all night; this by daylight brought us pretty well in with the land, 7 Leagues to the Westward of the Cavalle Isles, and where lies a deep Bay running in S.W. by W. and W.S.W., the bottom of which we could but just see, and there the land appear'd to be low and level, the 2 points which form the Entrance lie W.N.W. and E.S.E. 5 Miles from each other. This Bay I have named Doubtless Bay;[1] the wind not permitting us to look into this Bay we steer'd for the Westermost land we had in sight, which bore from us W.N.W., distant 3 Leagues, but before we got the length of it it fell calm, and continued so until 10 o'Clock, when a breeze sprung up at W.N.W., and with it we stood off N. While we lay becalm'd, several of the Natives came off to the Ship in 5 Canoes, but were fearful of venturing alongside. After these were gone, 6 more came off; these last came boldly alongside, and sold us fish of different sorts sufficient to give all hands a little.
At noon, the Cavalle Islands bore S.E. by E., distant 8 Leagues, and the Entrance of Doubtless Bay S. by W. distant 3 Leagues, and the N.W. Extremity of the Land in sight, which we judge to be the Main, bore N.W. by W. Our Latitude by observation was 34° 44′ S.
Sunday, 10th.—Had the winds from the Western board all this day, a Gentle breeze and clear weather. In the evening found the Variation to be 12° 41′ E. per Azimuth and 12° 40′ by the Amplitude; in the morning we stood Close in with the Land, 7 Leagues to the westward of Doubtless Bay. Here the shore forms another large open Bay; the Bottom of this and Doubtless Bay cannot be far
- ↑ There is a small settlement called Mangonui in Doubtless Bay.
