which often advanced or retarded them by ſeveral hours.
The ſheltered ſituation of this harbour, renders it the moſt commodious in the world for veſſels to put into in order to be repaired. The vaſt foreſts, with which it is ſurrounded, furniſh a timber which our carpenters conſidered as very proper for ſhip building, and which they employed with great advantage.
During our ſtay of nearly a month at this place, the weather was very unfavourable for making aſtronomical obſervations. The ſeaſon of the year was likewiſe not an eligible one for inveſtigating theſe coaſts, which was rendered ſtill more difficult by the violence of the winds.
Whilſt we remained at the Cape of Van Diemen, the north-weſt and ſouth-weſt winds were very violent: the former were generally attended with ſtorms and heavy rains.
As ſoon as it was day the veſſels were towed to the mouth of the harbour, from whence we ſailed with a north breeze towards the new ſtrait, which we intended to enter.
After ranging along the windings of the reef, which we had left on our larboard ſide when we entered Tempeſt-bay, we were at ten o'clock in the forenoon at the diſtance of about 7,600 toiſes from the entrance of the ſtrait, which bore
N.N.W.
