afford shelter; and the external view was not the most favourable, presenting rather an inhospitable prospect.
At noon we had dark gloomy weather, and our situation with respect to the land the same as last evening. Two bays were open to us, bearing N. 25° W. and N. 65° W.; a rock, S. 70° W.
VII
1797
October
Light breezes and rainy weather. Soon after noon we saw some fishing boats, and prevailed upon one of them to come on board. By signs we understood the opening to the N. W. as most eligible, and we bore up for it. Off the north point of entrance we saw some stupendous black rocks detached some distance from the shore: we passed within half a cable's length of them, carrying 30 fathoms, muddy bottom; and gradually afterwards shoaled our water to 15, 10, and 5 fathoms.
In the entrance of the south side is a high rocky island. To the North of it is a sandy bay, where we observed a large village, and cultivations surrounding it; and to the westward, through the rain and mist, we saw several scattered rocks, which induced us to turn to windward for the sandy bay; and before dark we came to an anchor, in four fathoms water. sandy bottom, half a mile from the shore.
It continued raining without intermission till daylight,
when we
had fair and pleasant weather, with the wind from the N. W. quarter. The
sea was open to us from the South to S. 23° E.; and in the angle we
saw very distinctly the island. of Tzima, at ten leagues distance
Early